Chapter Text
Cold air weaves between cracked buildings, bent lamp posts, sharp icicles, and stray debris. Clouds roll overhead, darkening the skies. The sounds of tires digging through snow screeches through the air. It fades to a stop just a few minutes later, the rumbling of a motor taking its place before it, too, ceases. But the sounds of vehicles continue some distance away.
Raucous shouting echoes through the dim sky. Bullets and arrows fly through the air, striking the ground in an attempt to strike at other people. The fire’s returned by the second group, swerving around large piles of snow and chunks of debris.
Some of the shoddy cars chasing them aren’t as lucky and go flying after riding along the mounds or crash entirely against stone. The ones that avoid crashing continue the pursuit.
“Shoot them! Kill them till they’re dead!” Someone shouts, voice echoing into the air.
“We can’t let these bastards take our find!” Someone else returns.
“I’ve got you sons of bitches now! Hahahaha!!” A feminine voice cackles over the cacophony.
She yanks a small object from her clothes and throws it into the air. It sails along the winds, and upon meeting the ground on the other side of the battlefield, causes a bright explosion.
The first group of scrappers shout in surprise and agony as cars are turned over and others have to make a sudden halt before they, too, crash. The second group cheers maddeningly as they continue to fire their weapons at the second gaggle of humans.
A third party consisting of one sits behind the cover of debris up on a hill. She takes the binoculars from her goggles and smirks. She watches for another few minutes as the scrappers slowly inch away from the rusting shack that is a large, abandoned warehouse.
“Alright, Uzi. Let’s go see just what is in that warehouse that’s so valuable.” Uzi speaks to herself, walking to her motorbike.
She hops on and starts it back up. The quiet engine flares as she rolls down the hill in a blind spot of the ensuing chaos. Uzi is slow and as quiet as she can be as she rides down into a good hiding spot.
After hopping off her bike, she covers it with whatever scrap is around. Thankfully, the thing is still quite beaten-looking and blend in perfectly with the other heaps of junk.
With another smirk, Uzi bolts off to the back of the storage facility, where she can break in without risk of getting her head blown off by a ramshackle gun or her body chopped up by rabid cannibal scrappers looking to turn her bones into their next chandelier.
She climbs up snow, ice, forgotten crates, and some helpful pieces of scrap she picked up to a window high above the ground. Uzi slips in through the broken glass panel and carefully hops onto a ledge a short jump away. Metal groans as she tip-toes across the thin beam to somewhere she can safely step down.
Once on the floor, Uzi’s able to take a good look around. ‘Looks like this place was a factory of some kind. At least to a degree.’ She notes, staring at lines and towering shelves. ‘Or maybe they just used these for easier transport? I’m not sure…’
Uzi walks quietly through the facility, keeping an ear out for any noises inside the building. At the same time, she takes note of the sounds outside, listening for when the chaos may end.
‘And hopefully not anytime soon!’ She smirks again as she climbs up a tall shelf.
With a few grunts, Uzi gets up to the desired level and crawls along the metal grate. She digs through some open crates and damaged boxes. Her expression soon falls as there isn’t much she can take back with her.
‘Too heavy, too big, or just plain useless.’ Her mood sours. ‘And it sucks too, because this place is huge!’
Huffing, Uzi closes the box. She gingerly makes her way down back to the floor and scurries around some more. She eventually finds a box full of untouched data pads. Another is filled to the brim with thick cables.
‘Better, and certainly useful, but there’s no way I’ll need cable this thick or this many tablets.’ The young woman thinks. ‘But I’ll take a few just in case! I can always use them later or sell them off!’ Another grin forms on her lips.
Stuffing her satchel with some of the objects, Uzi makes her way through the warehouse again. She enters another room full of shelves and boxes, sorts through them and takes some supplies, then leaves. She repeats this process a few times, even coming across an office on the third floor.
‘Nothing of use here, though. Unless the building’s keys count.’ Uzi tosses them within her hand. ‘Welp, maybe this is my cue to go home. I don’t hear anymore shouting anyway.’
Turning for the nearest window, Uzi peers through it. She can’t see the scrappers, just their cars; Destroyed and otherwise. The woman takes a moment to listen but can’t catch anything.
“I didn’t get much, but it’s still better than nothing.” She mutters as she hurries out of the office.
As she retraces her steps, Uzi hears a few voices. She takes cover behind the corner and pulls out a small crossbow, armed with barbed arrows.
“I can’t believe we won that, hahaha!” Someone shouts jovially, probably clicking his heels, too. “Those little skunk-rats never had a chance against us!”
“I blew someone’s face right off their head! It went all ‘BOOM!’ and I went al ‘HAHAHA!!’” Another chortles loudly.
“There’s gotta be some good stuff in this place if we had to go through all that!” A third voice says.
“Ooh! Ooh, ooh, ooh! Do you think it’s as good as the rumors say it is?” Uzi’s brow quirks up at this.
She gets a little closer, taking shelter in a fallen ceiling panel She leans against the corner to hear better, her curiosity thoroughly piqued.
“Which rumors? There’s like, millions of them!” A woman inquires, asking what Uzi wants to herself.
“You haven’t heard?! Man, you must live under the planet’s crust!” The crazed man cackles.
He’s promptly shut up with a smack. He shouts in hurt and whines before huffing and continuing.
“Rumor says that there’s a JCJ warehouse that’s got something real valuable in it. Better than anything you can imagine!” He replies. “It ain’t just full of wires, or data pads of information, or the cars all those rich snobs like to toot around in! It’s got something even better!”
“And what could that be?” The third voice wonders. “You make it sound like it’s some treasure from a story pad!”
“Yeah right!” His buddy scoffs. “But truth be told, no one knows what’s inside. Just that there’s word that there might be a warehouse or two out there that’s totally untouched, storing something that even JCJ would do anything to get their hands on again.”
“And where’d you hear this? Your little imaginary friends again?” The woman snips.
“Nuh-uh! And they aren’t imaginary!” The crazed man shouts back. “But I heard it from a guy who heard it from another guy who heard it from another guy who heard it from another guy who heard it from–”
“Get to the point!” The woman interrupts.
“I was! As far as I heard, it came from someone who once worked for JCJ! But he’s hella dead, so who knows.” He then cackles.
His friends groan. Uzi wants to as well. But she can’t deny it and say she isn’t still curious.
‘If what he said is true—and there’s a real big chance it isn’t—then whatever could be inside that warehouse could be the most valuable thing yet.’ The young woman thinks, moving from her cover to make her escape. ‘But where is that warehouse exactly? As far as I know, there’s seldom a storage place that’s untouched. Only in places where radiation is high.’
The group’s voices fade out as Uzi heads for an escape. Their conversation moved on and the topic changed, which means she’s no longer interested. But it’s still got her thinking, even as she pulls out her motorcycle again.
‘However, perhaps that is where this super-valuable warehouse is. Then it becomes a matter of whether or not everything inside is damaged or irradiated or not.’ Her motorcycle flares to life as she bolts off. ‘Well, whatever the case, I’ll have to look into it more. For now, I should focus on getting home. I’ve got my own treasures to take back.’
Uzi revs her engine and increases speed, the wind whipping her hood and the fluff rimming her coat. The scenery of crumbling buildings, miles of endless snow, and mounds of debris and scrap become blurs. She weaves through it all expertly, the snow flying through the air under cleated tires.
Her trek back home is quick as she avoids any and all scrapper routes she knows. Her motorbike makes quick work of the distance traveled through the city, and soon enough, she’s spotting the towering walls of her colony in the distance. Once she’s close enough, Uzi slows down into a quiet stroll and rides along the edge a safe distance away until she sees a familiar but small gate.
The woman pulls out a remote to open her path back inside. Uzi strolls inside with the doors closing promptly behind her. Brighter lights illuminate the large garage. Uzi hops from her bike, heavy boots hitting the metal floor.
She stretches out her limbs and back with a short whine, but a triumphant smirk plays on her lips. “Damn! That took longer than expected. But I found some useful supplies!” Uzi moves to pull down her hood.
Her goggles lift up to reveal her lavender eyes. Royal purple tresses fall over her face as she pulls down her hood. She breathes out a relieved sigh, the air filling her lungs right after stale and metallic.
“That trip could’ve been more fruitful, not gonna lie…” She mutters to herself. “But it wasn’t fruit-less, so I’ll count it as a job well done!” Uzi then smiles to herself.
Uzi shakes her head and checks the tailbag sitting tightly secured on her motorcycle. Nothing had come undone and everything is still tucked safely inside it—if scraping uncomfortably against one another. Not that Uzi cares enough to change that.
‘I need a better way of getting bigger pieces of scrap, though. There’s still plenty of good stuff out there that’s just too big and heavy for me and my bike to carry.’ She thinks as she closes the bag again.
Uzi turns to make her way out of the old garage, suited only for small vehicles. The door she walks through leads into the greater insides of her colony where the buildings and its people lie.
Uzi takes a breath of the stinky air and starts on her way home, locking up the garage tight. Creeping exhaustion from the late night begins to weigh her down along with the lack of adrenaline pumping through her veins. But the young woman trudges through dirty, snowy roads regardless.
‘You know, even if I didn’t get anything too good tonight, I’m sure I can still get a pretty Doornar from what I have gathered.’ Uzi would’ve looked happy if the mention of money didn’t make her grimace instead. ‘Ugh. I freaking hate “Doornars.”’
“Fuckin’ stupid…” She grumbles under her breath, stuffing her hands into her coat pockets. “And so are ‘Credoors,’ too. And my dad for coming up with such stupid shit!” She kicks a stray can in frustration.
A growl allows the purple-haired woman to cool herself. Then again, so does the fatigue of her late-night excursion. But Uzi continues on towards home with a few glances to pass her time.
Tall buildings are illuminated by neon lights and warm-yellow street lamps. There’s not many people roaming about at this late hour, but the ones who are lean against buildings to smoke or stumble home from a late night out with friends.
Uzi melds into the townsfolk with ease. She glances around at the bright signs begging for one’s attention, directing them to bars, diners, shops, and whatever else. Apartment buildings sit among them at every turn. It’s the same old sights Uzi’s grown up with, been born in, but it’s something to distract her while on her way home.
‘I hope my dad isn’t home right now. Or is at least asleep if so.’ Uzi thinks with a sigh. ‘I don’t feel like dealing with him or his bullshit tonight.’ A scowl forms on the woman’s face. ‘Ugh, I can hear him already! Practically hallucinate it!’
Uzi makes a turn and starts heading up some steps. Her scowl only deepens as she makes her way home in the center of town. And the further center she gets, the less buildings there are. To an extent, anyway.
‘Maybe I should go out further. It’s more dangerous, but I still know how to get around out there. Not to mention that I might find better stuff, too’ The purple-haired woman thinks. ‘It might even be less dangerous since there might not be as many scrappers.’
Uzi snaps out of her thoughts as she makes it back home. Just a few more stairs to make it to the front door of her nicer apartment. Uzi’s steps quiet down as she comes upon the Doorman’s quarters. Taking a deep breath, Uzi sneaks inside.
The door slides closed quietly behind her. The house is dark and silent. Releasing her bated breath, Uzi’s shoulders slouch. She makes it to the living room before the lights flick on and she startles hard enough to gasp and whip around.
“Went out on another scavenging hunt, huh?” Khan questions with a firm look and crossed arms.
Uzi groans with a roll of her eyes. “Yes, dad. It gets me money and helps the colony. Just like you tell me do to.” She replies.
“Risking your life isn’t what I meant!” Khan argues. “Not to mention that we already have scavenging groups to collect supplies from the wastes!”
“Well, I don’t feel like sitting pretty in some cubicle or behind some counter where I get yelled at all day!” Uzi retorts bitterly. “Besides, it’s more fun scavenging then sorting through emails the rest of my life.”
“But it’s safer! Not to mention that you can still contribute perfectly fine to the colony by working inside it!” A smile forms on the older Doorman’s face.
Uzi doesn’t look as happy. “Yeah, while rotting away in an uncomfortable wheelie chair.” She snips. “If I can even land a job like that!” She quickly adds.
“I’m sure you could! You’re a Doorman, you can do basically anything!” Her father argues. “You could even become a door expert like me! That sounds pretty neat, doesn’t it!” His chest puffs in pride.
“By using you as a crutch? Following in your footsteps, even? Please! In your dreams, dad!” His daughter scoffs with a roll of her eyes. “Anyways, I’m tired and want to sleep. I’m going to bed.” She moves to walk past him.
“Uzi–!” Khan turns.
“I don’t care! I’m already in my room!” But she scampers off before he can say another word.
The young woman’s bedroom door closes. Khan groans as his expression flattens. He pinches the bridge of his nose as he does so, shaking his head.
“Guess I’ll have to try talking to her tomorrow…” He grumbles, moving to his own room.
Uzi huffs as she dumps her satchel on her workbench. Letting out a tired breath, Uzi turns down to her bag. She decides to deal with it tomorrow and moves to strip. Her dirty clothes are dumped unceremoniously on the floor while she heads for the bathroom connected to her bedroom.
The shower springs to life and Uzi spots herself in the bathroom mirror. She can see the dark circles hanging under her lavender eyes. Her hair is stringy and greasy, desperate for this wash. Uzi’s muscles, though defined and well-worked by now, ache from all the work earlier tonight.
“Yeesh. Maybe I should just take tomorrow to get some more sleep.” Uzi mutters as she grimaces at her face in the mirror. “To be honest, I wouldn’t mind that. And when I can’t sleep anymore, I can watch some anime.” A grin plays on her lips.
Steam starts to fog the mirror. Using it as her cue, Uzi steps into the shower. Hot water glides down the woman’s figure. Her hands run cups of water along her face, ridding it of filth and grime. Her hair darkens under the gentle rain.
For a few minutes, Uzi just stands under the shower head. She takes in the hot water running over her form and warming her skin, kissed gingerly by the sun. A hand runs along a few of her muscles, wiping away stubborn patches of grime. The firm brawn underneath takes more time to untense after the trek home.
“Those scrappers… What if what they were talking about is true?” Uzi speaks quietly to the water. “I don’t see why it can’t be plausible. Even I’ve heard from within my own colony how there might be some JCJ buildings that haven’t been raided yet.”
Uzi grabs the soap to lather along her body. Her thoughtful doesn’t fall, thoughts racing.
“And yet, no one’s been able to find anything. Or maybe they haven’t looked hard enough.” She wonders aloud. “The only place I can think of that wouldn’t be touched would be anything near old power plants that have become irradiated.”
Finishing up with the soap, Uzi rinses. She grabs the shampoo next, mixing it with her greasy hair. Clumps of suds fall down her back and shoulders as she keeps her eyes and mouth closed.
‘But if that’s true, that would still make it impossible for me to explore, too.’ Uzi’s monologue continues in her head. ‘Then again, there might be more information other people know. Maybe I can ask around in the agora?’
Rinsing her hair leaves her far fresher and cleaner than before. No more grease to make it stringy and shiny. All that’s left is to condition it.
‘At the same time, this is all just one big rumor. Who knows if any of this is real. Especially since it’s coming from scrappers of all people.’ She huffs, running her fingers through her locks. ‘But who knows! Maybe it really is true, and there is warehouse out there that’s untouched! I could totally find some cool-ass scrap to take home all for myself!’ A smirk forms at the thought.
“Gah! Eww, soap! Puh! Puh!” Unfortunately, that allowed a few suds into her mouth.
A quick gargle of water rids her of the bitter taste more or less. But Uzi rinses off her hair again and squeezes as much water out as she can. The shower’s turned off and Uzi steps out to grab her towel. She dries off, leaving her hair trapped within a towel as she steps out of her bathroom. The chilly air makes her flee for her pajamas.
“Even so, the question now becomes ‘Where would I even find a warehouse that’s not raided?’” Uzi talks aloud once more, voice quiet. “And of course, others would be after it, too. And without more information, I doubt I’m finding something like that anytime soon.” She sits on her bed, taking off her hair towel.
After drying her hair, Uzi tosses it back into her bathroom and begins combing her hair. It’s quiet for a few minutes, letting Uzi mull over things.
“I wonder… If I can find any old tech from before the war…” Uzi thinks quietly. “If people from before everything went to shit knew about it, maybe they wrote it down somewhere? But then where would I find a place like that?”
Uzi’s gaze turns to her satchel sitting on her workbench. Tools, blueprints, and sparse bits and bobs sit scattered around it. The woman’s gaze narrows on it.
“Maybe… If I can find one of those company buildings…” She breathes. “I can find something that could tell me about storehouse locations.” Uzi’s fists clench. “And for once, if I can find that rumored storehouse, maybe I could get a little appreciation from this colony…”
Uzi’s room goes silent. The owner of it gets up to turn out her lights and get into bed. Uzi stares at her ceiling, barely making out some papers, blueprints, and small maps attached to it.
“It might just be worth a try.”
Uzi rolls over with that last whisper, sleep coming to her easily to satiate some of her exhaustion.