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Phyx:
As evening wore on into night the lights at Al's 24hr continued to burn brightly, the winter weather little deterrent to the business of making sure people had what they needed regardless of the time of day. The convenience store and deli was still humming away, staff staying out of the cold and kept warm in part by the attached building next door, the large garage space that made up the 'repair' part of Al's.
Those people in the lost boy network, or connected to the Detail after having left Delta would be aware that aside from excellent prices, good sandwiches and superb service, Al's was also a safe place to stop and rest, get your bearings, get gear repaired and possibly be able to offer a needed dose of serum.
The garage lights were still lit despite the hour, keeping open as long as need be in case someone had to come in with a desperate repair. The immense, squat furnace that sat in the corner cheerily puffed out heat and warmth, music playing in the garage somewhat audible beyond it's walls.
Jane:
Jane was inside the convenience store, dressed in a black leather jacket and blue jeans, hair tied back in a ponytail. She was at the nacho machine, loading up a plastic tray full of tortilla chips with plenty of cheese, chili, and jalapeños. She had a large fountain drink of Trademarked™️ soda next to her.
Hawke:
Hawke has been by before. For a sandwich (no meat, please) or their car (their baby, though they'd never say it.) Or serum. They're a quiet but regular customer, always polite, never smiling.
Their Miata pulls up - or limps up, really, that noise is not a noise cars are suppose to make - and eases into the garage before turning the engine off. A few moments of silence, before they get out of the car with a groan, and make their way toward whoever happens to be around.
Phyx:
At the sound of the sputter and cough of a damaged car, the music in the garage turned off as Phyx popped his head around into the convenience side of things to see what was going on. Staff, well used to Jane's presence and aware of the goings on here, quickly noted as well, one of them going to fetch first aid equipment for Jane, since she was on premises at the time. Phyx looked to her curiously. "That doesn't sound good."
While one of the employees of the Armory returned with a first aid kit for Jane, another was opening the bay doors of the garage for the Miata, giving Phyx time to walk out to greet their arrival. He winced at the sound the car made, giving it a brief once over before turning his attention to the more immediate matter at hand. He went over to Hawke, putting a hand out to help steady them. "Jeez Louise what the heck happened to you? And your car?"
Jane:
Jane got to moving and met the staff member with the medical kit as she stepped on into the garage to check on whoever was walking in, abandoning her tasty nachos. "I'm guessing they didn't call in ahead of time.." She says to Phyx.
Hawke:
Hawke's warm tan skin is just a touch paler than usual, their grimace just a little more pronounced, a slight shudder to their hands. They're someone who's good at hiding when they're hurt, or when they're needing a fix.
"I'm fine," they mutter, as if on reflex. "Mostly. 'S just a new week an' I didn't manage to make it to the Detail..." Their grimace deepens. "An' then I ran over some fucker's piece of tire on the way here, almost drove me off the road." they shake their head with a scoff of annoyance. "It's been a shit day, Phyx, how are you?"
They have a slight accent, and their utility jacket, flannel, and faded cargo pants all look like they came from some military surplus store a decade ago. Who knows, maybe they did. Their dark hair is neat enough, at least, one of those just-below-the-ear cuts that make styling simple, and they lean against the car, giving Jane an appraising eye as she walks in.
It's a threat assessment. From someone who clearly knows what they're looking for - they note her stance, mark the common spots for concealed weapons.
And then they give her a familiar upnod, the ghost of a smile. It's their way of saying 'hello' - Jane would have seen it before.
Phyx:
"Nope. Not a word, thunderbird. But that's why we run twenty four hours." He gave his temple a tap, then turned to Hawke. "Oh. Well, thank goodness, that was about as far from my mind as could be." He laughed a little at himself. "So not a running gunfight between multiple cars and giant explosions or anything. Great news." He paused. "Though less good news about your car. And getting hurt. And not being able to hit the Detail. Though good news there."
As he caught Hawke's look to Jane he thumbed towards their fellow protocol member. "This is Soteria. Lifeline. She can have you patched up and on your feet in no time. And one of us. Best field medic I ever met." He gave a nod to Jane, and then gestured towards the garage. "Let's all go in and get warm and cleaned up and bandaged, why not? I'll get the car in, and you two can go sit at the workbenches and say hi." He grinned at that, as a staff member was helping angle the damaged Miata towards the open vehicle bay for service.
Jane:
Jane returns the upnod and smiles, then gives Phyx a look, "We're both Detail, we've met." There was a playful smirk before she turns to give back the kit to the staff member with a 'thanks', then retrieves her nachos and drink to head into the garage.
"Since you didn't make it to the Detail, I'm guessing you're gonna need a dose to get you by until you can get your ration?" She set her snack down and grabbed a chip made soggy by melty cheese.
Hawke:
"Oh god no, I wouldn't bring her to a gunfight. I've got other shit for that." Hawke looks vaguely horrified at the thought, honestly, and they reach back to put a hand on the car's hood, saying goodbye for the moment.
A jerk of their head in Jane's direction in agreement - they have met - and they run their fingers through their hair. "Yeah it was just one'a those days. And I could wait 'til tomorrow but I'd rather not hurt any more'n I already am for it, y'know?" A beat pause.
"Fuck me, I could kill a plate of nachos right now. I was thinking about a sandwich, but..." they gesture to Jane's plate and start toward the door to the convenience store.
Phyx:
Phyx just chuckled, nodding as he got the Miata into the garage and went to go join them in the store. On the way he stopped at one of the workbenches to go into a refrigerated safe and picked out a few vials. While staff got to work cleaning up the car and trying to set it to rights, Phyx strolled in to the store side, going to grab himself a slushie.
"Nachos you can have if you're of a mind. The cheese sauce is the real deal even." Once Hawke was in and settled, Phyx would pass him the two vials. "Thankfully, we may be about to make some progress on this front at least. I got Fox a dose of the Delta serum, and she and Lyuda literally disappeared before our eyes to go look it over. Was pretty neat to see. But in the meantime, I can still get what we need."
Jane:
Jane nods, "Everybody loves nachos, especially once they're sitting in front of you." She got to eating a few more bites. When Phyx explains Fox and Lyuda's behavior, she rolled her eyes, "Yeah, Fox did that when I first showed her the stuff. It's good she's gotten that so maybe we can all be more independent, I'm fine with the Detail, but I'm better with them when I don't need them so badly."
Hawke:
"Call me paranoid, I still don't think we should be giving shit away to people who aren't us," they grumble. "Even if they say they're helping. I...mm." A shrug. "But it's just me, I know." And off they go to go, as they so delicately put it, 'kill a plate of nachos'.
Phyx:
Nachos were indeed good, especially when they were in front of you, and Phyx got down to enjoying some himself. "We can take this discussion downstairs in a bit while your car gets repaired and we fix you up, but nachos first at least." He grinned at that, though nodded at Hawke's concern. "I can understand that. Thankfully I'm in the position of being able to spare a vial or two for that kind of thing, and still make sure everyone has enough to get by. And that being said, once we figure out how to copy and improve the serum, I'll start making it myself. So we can be entirely independent."
Jane:
"These people are a bit different and if it leads to us not just having our own way to make the stuff but also to making it so that it isn't toxic? Eh, it's a good trade." Jane was munching on the nachos and taking sips of cola in between. "Let's head on, then.." She picks up her nachos and cola and heads to the elevator.
Hawke:
"Mmmh." It's about as expressive as Hawke ever gets, and they munch on a nacho (so much cheese) and shoulder their backpack a little more firmly on their shoulders as they follow Jane.
Phyx:
Phyx nodded, grabbing his slushie as he went. When they got to the wall by the big furnace, the Lost Boy poked at the wall, causing the elevator door to slide back and reveal the cylindrical elevator inside. Synthwave was playing over the speakers as it moved, eventually opening out into the Armory itself.
The immense space was roughly two floors, the upper floor mostly living quarters, a public lounge space and storage. The bottom floor, which made up the majority of the Armory's workings, was given over entirely to the fabrication and testing of gear and equipment, save for a space in the back which held a lounge area and kitchenette for business meetings or for meals when working. Each wall held multiple spaces specifically created for a purpose, from science laboratories to weapon and armor smithing, an immense bay of computers, an entire wall of occult talisman's and literature, and racks and rows of weapons, armor and equipment both on display and available for use. Off down one corridor led to the facility's underground automotive bay, while another was labeled "Medical".
Taking his slushie over to the lounge area, Phyx plopped down in a chair to relax. "Yeah, as Jane said that's the other major card to play. If we can make it so it's not toxic at all, then the whole game changes. And if there's enough to go around, we can start drawing in other Protocol agents, help them shake free of Delta, and maybe even shake the whole thing up from top to bottom. That's an endgame I'm willing to play for."
Jane:
Jane snorts to Phyx's big vision, "I don't know how much shaking I'm up for, but I'll settle for being my own person. Now, if we could ever make it so Delta's just not a problem anymore.. that might be worth something." She raises her cup of cola and takes a sip. "But maybe we should do the basic, 'Hey, how you been, what's going on, you doing alright' kind of thing first, Phyx? Before we launch into grand plans."
Hawke:
"Yeah...yeah. I know," Hawke says to Phyx, and ease down into a chair with a groan. "I do miss the pure shit, but I don't miss any of the rest of it."
The vials are set aside, and they get down to the business of eating. Food first, taking the edge off later.
"I sure as hell didn't sign up for a night of philosophizing," they continue between bites, but their lips are quirked upward just lightly. It's what passes for a smile, almost, for them.
Phyx:
Phyx just chuckled. "Entirely fair on both points. I admit, I'd take that myself as well. Though I would really like to get down to the bottom of what the heck it's all about. Who or what they're preparing for, that kind of thing. And of course the how."
Sitting back, he took a pull on his slushie and smiled at Jane, tipping his head in acknowledgement of her point. "Also fair. At the moment? Been doing pretty well. That apartment complex that got blown up is being repaired now, and I'm going back this week to try and figure out the electrical issue, now that there isn't a Mark 2 in the way." He snorted at that. "Seem to have made a fair few contacts, got to see Fox and met Lyuda as well. So I'm starting to get into the whole awakened thing a bit more. Starting to put feelers out, take in commissions Which reminds me, I'm ready to start on yours next." He nodded to Jane. "Oh, and I'm almost at the point where I've saved all the spirits in Ghostwire, which I'm pretty pleased with. Great game."
"How about the two of you?"
Jane:
"Doing good. Helping out at the Lodge as usual. Things have been pretty nice, honestly. Not much gaming, though." She nods and looks to Hawke to see how they answer while chomping down another bit of nacho deliciousness.
Hawke:
"Well, today's been shit. As stated. Otherwise I've been...making myself useful. Thinking about taking a language class or two - always thinking about doing that. Staying low, keeping quiet. You know." A beat, as they take a sip of water, their hand shaking, "The usual. Avoiding the fucking robocops like the plague."
Phyx:
Phyx nodded, enjoying another nacho. "Sounds pretty decent yeah. Nice to have some stability." He winced and looked to Hawke apologetically. "Though even if it's nice and quiet, there's no accounting for Murphy's law. Doesn't take much to make a day a bit of a misery, yeah?"
He tipped his head in acknowledgement at the mention of the Mark 2s. "Yeah they really suck. I'm fully recovered from the last one I met, but self destruct devices are dirty pool. Been trying to figure out how to knock them out, getting a lot of good ideas going, but we'll have to see how it plays out. Still wish I could get my hands on one to root around."
Jane:
"I've been lucky with the robocops so far, but having to disguise up every so often to get around.. When it comes to knocking one of them out, there's always the pulse generator." She says, then quickly follows up, "Uhhh.. not that I'm volunteering."
She then scratches her chin, "But uhh.. huh. Couldn't you build some kind of EMP grenade or something? Obviously, you'd want to stand clear so you don't fry the brainputer, or anything else for that matter."
Phyx:
Phyx nodded. "For the best really. And the pulse generator is probably a good call. I've been in fact working on some stuff on that end yeah. Both explosive devices, and more directed applications. And also, a lot of my weapons can deliver an electric charge. But I'm working on upping that, and trying to figure out new toys and tricks."
He tapped his head. "And yeah, gotta keep the brainputer safe and all. Working on that too." He winked.
Hawke:
"Yeah I...dunno how useful an EMP would be without it being dangerous for a whole hell of a lot of other people. In a vacuum, sure, but...it could easily fuck up a lot of other important shit."
They still have half a plate of nachos, and the rustle of crispy chips sounds as they put the thing on the floor with their shaky hands. The soldier isn't shaking too hard to undo the buttons on their flannel, and they let out a sigh of a breath as they tug it off to expose their shoulder. Their undershirt is black - or, was black, it's greyish now - and sleeveless.
"Anyone figured how to hack into the system remotely could do the right kinda damage, I bet."
The other two are familiar with the ritual - clean the skin, prep the area. Try to steady the autoinjector despite the shaking hands.
The shudder and hiss as the Serum, life-saving and toxic, hits their system.
"Fuck." It's quiet, and vehement, and they set the whole contraption aside, wincing as they very slowly move to pick up their plate again.
Jane:
She looks to Hawke, "Thing is, they're not really 100% robots. That is, they're being remote piloted, but the technology might not be hackable." She shrugs, "Or at least not by normal tech. Might take something else. Even if not 'piloted', their AI tech is on another level." She doesn't seem to react to the dosing, it's as normal as breathing at this point, even knowing how hard it can hit.
Phyx:
Phyx gave Hawke time to take their dose of the serum, nodding. "We've been trying to come up with a few things yeah, but we're not sure if hacking will work." He snapped a finger gun to Jane. "That's the big kicker yeah. The one we tried to take down was being remote piloted. There's a human mind in there, and the connection is deep enough that it can be messed with mentally. Once the controlling intelligence is kicked out or escapes, the robot just becomes a sort of barely functioning shell. And then blow up. Next time, we're gonna try and see if we can figure out exactly where the pilots are physically."
"As for a means to hit them with an EMP or simply just a massive electrical shock. Or an explosive charge. But I'm gonna need a lot of testing to make sure it works, especially for firearms. But I think it could all work. The other trick is shutting down the bomb inside them without blowing anything else up. Might be able to jam the communication between the robot and the pilot, try and keep any commands from being transmitted. I'm also just trying to figure out how to just slice right through them."
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