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(Setting) Neko Park!
| >At this rate, it's only a matter of time before the city encapsulates the entirety of the park itself. Just outside the fortified walls, you see large groups of people making camp, sharing donated clothes and setting up cardboard homes on the ground. There's a large line just in front of the main gate to the hobo city, and along the side, you see a different line, this one leading to a soup kitchen of sorts. The kitchen seems to be heavily guarded by men in improvised armor.
| >A tall, young man walks up to the park, somewhat dumbfounded at the expanded site.
"Jeez I guess considering circumstances I shouldn't be surprised... guess this is going to be a lot harder than I thought."
>CN heads to the main entrance, looking out for Glory on the way
| >>131105
>As you approach the entrance, you walk past a very long line of a variety of poor folks... many in rags, others clinging to discarded jackets and coats, some of which look way too new... or "lightly used." Some are wearing military uniforms of white and green, which have clearly been blemished since they were last in command. A gruff looking man at the entrance bids you halt.
| "Get in the back of the line, porky. Anyone who wants to enter Rust City needs to wait their turn."
| >>131110
"I-I don't suppose there's a visiting line? I'm just looking for a friend of mine inside..."
| >>131111
"Nope. What do you think this is, a theme park?" >The man says gruffly, meeting your gaze with a large, improvised club made out of a tire iron that's somehow been bent around a wrench.
"Git in the back of the line, chummer."
| >>131118
>CN slumps his shoulders and heads to the back of the line
"*Sigh* It's never easy for me is it..."
| >>131121
>You wait in line for a few minutes, but it doesn't feel like it's getting any shorter at all. You watch as a man in a wheelchair is harassed by the guards and hurriedly rolls away when you feel someone tap you on the shoulder.
>It's a street kid. A mix of tats and acne scarring lines both of his cheeks and he has bright pink hair that's been cut to blow out and upward, not unlike a certain fighting game character's.
| "Hey chummer... you needing to get inside?" >The street kid says, looking shifty eyed. He looks like a go-ganger washout, or at the very least, he's stolen a leather jacket from one. On the lapel of his jacket you can see an amateurly stitched name that says "RIDERZZZ" on it.
| >CN puts his hands in his pockets, feeling the cold, outside air getting to him while he was waiting
"Y-Yea, you know a way in?"
| >>131130
"Sure thing pops! But ya know... i've been feelin' kinda hungry lately, and the slop they're givin' away o'er there ain't the best. Got nuyen for a burg?"
| >He pulls out a credstick with 1000 zenny and hands it to the kid
"Get yourself the large combo."
| >>134063
>The boy's eyes light up so much that they could blind someone.
"...roight this way, chummer."
>You follow the boy away from the line and scout around the edge of the fortified city. After about five minutes of walking (yes, it has grown THAT large,) you finally reach a side that had been built with corrugated metal. The boy easily pries off one of the slabs that hadn't been properly bolted to the wall, and gestures you inside.
| "Pleasure doin' business with ya, chummer. Please don't die," >He says, as he closes the hole behind you.
| "Well that last statement wasn't a good sign..."
>CN mumbles to himself as he begins to explore the "city" for any sign of Glory
| >>134201
>After stepping over random scrap and moving from one side of a dilapidated car to the other, you arrive in a rough "street" with shanty homes built out of a combination of scrap metal, barbed wire, reclaimed brick and other improvised housing that is certainly a step up from the flammable homes of a few months ago. There are crowds of people moving up and down this "street"... you're actually just in the middle of traffic!
| >The people here, even the children, all look far better fed than the people outside- a few march by, carrying hunting rifles that look like they have been modified with larger magazines and military sights. The people carrying them have noticeably larger, healthier bodies and something approaching combat readiness.
>Next to you, a young woman tries to push past you, carrying a large basket! As they do, they trip on a piece of trash on the ground and fall, spilling the contents!
| >>138285
"O-Oh I'm sorry, hold on, let me help you."
>He bends down and quickly begins to help her get her stuff together again
| >>138295
>At seeing you touch the dropped items, the young woman suddenly screeches, and starts hurriedly picking up the items and snatching a few out of your hands! She throws them into her bag and runs off without looking back- you think you might have seen a tear or two on her face!
>She did leave one of the items, however. It appears to be a bottle of acetaminophen...
>Behind you, a gruff voice speaks:
"Ey, chummer. Outta the way."
>It seems to be a brute of a man!
| >>138303
"Oh sorry"
>He quickly grabs the bottom while still kneeling and tries to move off the street
| >>138311
>You move off into what looks like a stall of some kind, the smell of barbecuing meats filling your nostrils as the large man walks by. He seems to be one of four men, carrying a large coffin-like metal object, grunting as they continue their destination.
>Above you are several skewers of cooked meats, of varying degrees of delicacy- roasted lizard, fried mouse, and a whole bunch of smol garden snakes on a single skewer are available.
| >The shopkeep, a bored man with a towel around his head and an old face, looks down at you from above the counter top.
"Hello. You don't look like yer from around here. Newblood?"
| >>138321
"Er... yes, I'm a little lost right now admittedly. I didn't think things would be so packed in here."
| >>138323
"It only gets more packed every day- even though they started restricting entry and whatnot," >He eyes you over.
"Yer definitely new. You a new Guardsman?"
| >>138363
"Y-Yes... just kind of got stuck in traffic cause I got lost and well... I should probably get going."
| >>138388
"Yeah, you probably should... never know when the Guard will call, eh?" >He says, as you leave the stall!
"May Solar guide you!"
| >>138403
"You as well."
>CN weakly mumbles as he heads back into traffic as he heads in the direction the woman left towards
| >>138418
>You make your way with the traffic- all around you the slightly-better-than-shanties seem to be full of commerce and trade, although upon spotting you and your deck some of the people immediately hush. You eventually enter into a square of sorts, full of people talking, engaging in recreation in the form of card games or dice, or recruiting, it seems. There's a number of young men here who are speaking with a well armored (and noticeably plumper) gentlemen.
| >Indeed, as you approach it seems more like what he's saying would belong in a church or from a pulpit of some kind.
"...and the hills ran with streams of milk and honey, and CoPepsi... and Sol saw that it was good... and, turning to His wife, Terra, He rested on the seventh day, during which He warmed her loving bosom, which swelled in size with their love making... and so, like the creation of Humans, Sol decreed the sanctity of both leisure and sexual activity..."
| "It's disgustin," >A man says to you as you watch the sermon,
"He's completely butchering our beliefs with his fictional garbage."
| >>138510
"It's a creation story. Basically... Sol warmed the Earth, and from the Earth, the first humans sprouted and populated the world, which itself was perfect climate, with perfect people. And depending on who you ask, the Earth itself was a god, instead of a place. Not me, tho. A planet, even a holy one, ain't a person. It's a place! Damn fetishizers... fraggin' everything is being turned into a cute girl or somethin'." >He says, gruffly and somewhat loudly.
| >A few of the listeners turn around to give him a scowl. The man flips them off.
"Dern kids not readin' their history and their texts and listenin' to their elders..." >He looks to you.
"But you... you look like a proper God-fearin' young'un! Name's Tom. Call me ol'Tom." >He looks on your back.
"...that's fancy skatin' board you got there, boy!"
| >>138522
"Well it definitely feels like there's some higher power at work in my life, that's for sure."
>He shrugs before continuing
"U-Uh yea... I made it myself but it's sometimes a pain to carry around in small spaces so I just put it on my back."
| >>138541
"Har har! Maybe, maybe, but it sure beats one of dem palm-pad things that you just dial like a phone!" >He says, as he slaps his knee and throws an arm over your shoulder as if you're old buddies,
"'Ave you ever seen those 'uns with the 'pooter built into 'dere eyes and such? Looks like 'dere crazy, makin' motions in the air, almost like castin' a spell..."
>You feel him motion for the both of you to get out of the square.
| >>144242
"Yea, supposedly it's to make it run faster since its connected to your brain and stuff, but I don't really get it. It's just not the same unless you're typing with a keyboard you know?"
>CN offers no resistance as they head out of the square
| >>144247
"Ah kno' roight? The things people'll do for nuyen..." >He says as you both enter a shack that is noticeably a little better built than the ones around you. You aren't aware of just how much better until you realize that the walls have been covered in those eggcrate-style sleeping pads.
"...like you. You are way out of yer league, razorboy. Da hell are you doin' in this backward shithole?"
| >>144249
"Man I swear I really can be seen through everything..."
>He lets out a heavy sigh
"And I'm not hear for a job, I'm looking for someone who went missing in here a couple weeks back."
| "What kind of person?"
| "She's a reporter that goes by Glory, has blonde hair that she usually wears in a ponytail. She was last seen in Neko Park, presumably trying to write a story about Humanity First."
>He glances around the room
"Man this place changed in to time flat..."
| >>144265
>The old man scratches his raggedy beard, thinking.
"Doesn't ring a bell. Anythin' else? Is she augged?"
| >>145337
"Tch. Well, those would have stood out like a solar flare against a black hole, so either someone slotted her deck, or she's wearing contacts..." >He grumbles.
"But, yer sayin' she's trying to write about Humanity First? What about 'em?"
| >>147430
"What any good reporter does, finding the facts and writing the story. She isn't planning on spinning a story, I know her personally, and she cares about doing things right. But it's been weeks so I came looking for her."
| >>147444
>He shrugs
"Hell if I know. She doesn't really share when she's going to explore stuff that could potentially end with her in danger, usually I end up just looking for her when she's already in trouble."
| >>147457
"Hmph. Well if that's the case... have you checked the factory?" >He says, folding his arms.
"Most of the people here get a bed an' roof over dere heads in exchange for either serving in the Guard or fer preppin' weapons. Prolly yer best bet, assumin' she's still alive... or not someone's new squeeze."
| >>148479
"I see... and where is the factory? A-Actually where is *anything* in here. The time I was here was when I was helping put out the fires that that stupid metal band caused at the beginning of the riots in Decemeber."
| >>148698
>The old man points in an arbitrary direction- back toward where you had just left, you feel.
"Over there... built next to the base of the big sculpture. Probably less like a factory and more like a sortin' house, but whatever. They assemble the weapons there," >He says, sighing.
"It almost resembles one o' dem fortress worlds."
| >>154573
"Fortress worlds? Why do I get the feeling you don't mean something fancy like a castle..."
| >>154591
"That's because those don't exist... well, at least, not out here they don't," >He says, rubbing his chin.
"Dere' the old bases for the Protectorate- entire planets and moons... mostly small ones, to be honest... retrofitted to serve as refuelin' 'n rearmin' depots for fightin' along the outer rim. They, and the people on 'em, only exist for one purpose- to keep the fightin' going."
"And obviously, they're well protected. Or were. Not sure if any still exist."
| >>154705
"I see... Well let's hope nothing like that every comes this way. I'm always hearing the horror stories about the Protectorate. In any case I should hurry and search for my friend. Thank you for the help uh... I'm sorry I don't think I ever got your name."
| >>154738
"Uh... right. Thanks again."
>CN heads out of the house and heads over to the direction of the factory
|
| >>154845
>As you exit the hut, you find yourself back in the "square," where the preacher and attendees have long since left. There are still people here putting up items for sale or trade, but as evening approaches, some are putting up their shops. You make your way in the direction that Ol' Tom specified, and soon come upon what used to be the Jinterprises monument that was erected here.
>The monument is still there, but most of it has now been covered in tarpaulin or had vents
| >attached to the side, where large plumes of black smoke escape. There are some guards here, but they look bored out of their skulls and don't seem to notice you as you slip in just behind some other people, presumably workers.
>Within is a different story. There's an assembly line of sorts- parts of weapons of varying sizes, the largest of which seems to be a LMG, are being assembled here, fittings attached and parts inspected by people of every age bracket.
| >A few moments pass before a short whistle sounds somewhere outside, and the workers all stop at once, stretching their limbs. They begin to clamber outside- you note that some of them, especially the younger ones, are covered in bandages, especially around their fingers and hands.
| >CN starts looking around for Glory or anyone else he can recognize among the workers
| >>157076
>You search... and find no one that resembles her. It doesn't help that most of the workers are more interested in leaving than in having to do anything with you...
"You! Newblood!" >A gruff looking man says, approaching you,
"Go on, get out of here until yer break's over!"
| >>157121
"R-Right!"
>CN starts walking out with the rest of the crowd to avoid suspicion. He follows them to where their break is to see if he has better luck spotting her there.
| >You follow the other workers as they head back into the square, taking part in the haggling and bustle of market life while some others disappear with some rather thinly clad women.
>The injured ones you saw from before head off in a completely different direction, though, nursing their hands.
| >CN tries to follow the injured worker to ask him about Glory
| >>159639
>The worker ignores you- you continue to make your way toward the clinic when you accidentally run into a guy (or maybe he runs into you), knocking shoulders.
"HEY, watch it kid!" >He barks as he disappears off into the crowd.
>Soon, you've reached the medical area- its a lot cleaner than most of the city, which is to be expected, but also of note are the three separate tents available- One for Vita Life, one for Rxcellence...
>...and one for VeriaTech.
| >>167529
>Being just a little bit paranoid CN pats himself down to make sure he still has all his stuff after the run in
"Ugh... please don't hand me this hand fate..."
>CN audibly groans as he looks around for the worker or perhaps even Glory in case she is in the area.
| >>167630
>As you search, you run into a particularly pale-colored nurse who is busy treating what appears to be a gunshot wound in an elderly refugee. Out of the corner of your eye, you see long spikes protrude from her fingernails, which she uses to delicately pull the metal slug out. Surprisingly, the patient doesn't seem to notice in the slightest.
>Someone taps you on the shoulder!
| >>173454
>He turns around and quickly hops back in surprise at the sound sensation of someone bursting their personal bubble.
| >>173516
>It's a young woman in nursing scrubs! On her lapel you recognize a pin for Vita-Life- she seems taken aback by your response.
"Oh! I'm sorry, did I startle you?" >She says, concerned.
"Are you injured?"
| >>173543
"O-Oh no, but I'm looking for a friend who might have been. She's has a blonde ponytail, goes by Glory."
| >>173599
"Hmm... Okay, I'll ask one of the other clinics, thank you."
>He turns back towards the clinics and starts heading towards the Rxellence one.
| >>173822
>Before you can get any further, you feel someone grab your arm! They run into your chest, and you see a short head of brown hair underneath you, cut into a bun.
>"Shh, act natural," They say, as they start speaking out loud!
"Oh my, you're bleeding!" >They say, shocked!
"You need to be treated IMMEDIATELY!"
| >>173847
"U-Um uh..."
>CN is flabbergasted for a moment before quickly recovering
"Ugh yes... I got hurt pretty bad earlier... please help..."
| >>173850
>"Good god, you weren't kidding- you are a TERRIBLE liar," The woman whispers, forcibly moving you toward the Rxcellence tent,
"You're telling me! How did you even manage to survive this long!? You're suffering from... er, malnutrition, dementia, Crohn's disease, the shakes, Sanguinare Vampiris..."
>You disappear inside the Rxcellence tent at last, moving past some stuffed tables with hurrying nurses and surgeons. You're finally inside the supplies area...
| >When the nurse turns on you.
"What the hell are you DOING!?" >She says, maybe a little too loudly.
| >>173906
>CN speaks in a lower, but still annoyed voice
"I don't know, you tell me! You've been gone for weeks! And right now you're not doing much better in the lying department."
| >>174017
"Yeah, I've been here for WEEKS!" >She says, biting her tongue in an effort to whisper. It doesn't work.
"I haven't showered, I've been felt up by what feels like half this damn junkyard and I *think* some of them are on to me but for whatever reason haven't ripped me in two for spare parts," >She says, furious,
"And yet, SOMEHOW I've managed to stay alive through all that, and here you are, trampling around like some kind of-some- some kind of- NERF HERDER!"
| >>174894
"N-nerf herder...?"
>CN pauses, clearly confused by the term, before shaking his head and continuing.
"Well what was I supposed to do? I thought you were dead! I came to get you out of here, because clearly this is what are entire relationship consists of! You going out to get a scoop, only for us to come bail you out."
| >>174906
"And who asked YOU to come get me, huh!?" >She says, voice rising,
"This isn't just a scoop- I'm onto something, BIG, something that could screw everyone over if they don't prepare- why else do you think I would willingly stay in this STD infested hellhole full of bigots!? I-"
| >>174909
>CN immediately covers her mouth and puts a finger up to his
"...we're talking way too loud right now."
| >>174940
>Outside, you see a large group of men and some women dressed in archaic, bulky battle armor and equally old rifles, both of which had been recently repainted green. The helmets look like something out of an old trideo movie and the jackets look like old flak jackets with some metal plates attached. As they march toward the clinics, several of them break off to harass the Vita-Life staffers. Some break off to harass VeriaTech as well...
| >...which goes just as expected. You see a soldier fly through the draped covers of the clinical tent, followed quickly by some angry looking albino nurses. They start screeching obscenities at the soldiers while a few surround the area, exchanging jabs and posturing with their weapons. Some of the soldiers who were raiding the Vita-Life clinic notice the hubbub and leave the tent, joining the growing group outside the VeriaTech tent.
| "See that old equipment?" >The nurse says, whispering,
"At first I thought they were just buying cheap surplus goods. Then I realized that they were arming themselves a specific way. Lots of these people are from the Protectorate... but the way they're acting... this is different," >She says, pulling out a pocketbook and reading some notes.
"I think... whomever's pulling the strings are remnants from a different group altogether. A group of extreme xenophobes."
| >>174948
"You mean the policlub right? I haven't been able to meet any of the really higher ups from them, guess they don't like meeting the people they 'agree' with. I saw that they were building this stuff in a factory earlier."
| >>174956
"No, no- see, that's what I assumed, too- that they were with the Humanis Policlub, from the U.C.S," >She says, watching the increasing hostilities outside,
"I think at one point, they *were.* Thing is, the Humanis Polis don't really exist outside of the UCS- there's no point, the Protectorate didn't have that many augmented to begin with."
"But THESE guys... no. They're not Humanis Polis. I think they're just using the policlub, just like the policlub used the refugees."
| "I tried looking them up, but I'm starting to wonder if they just up and collapsed when no one was looking, or if the current interstellar societies just sort of... removed them from the histo- UGH! I'm rambling," >She says, closing the tent. The screeching and yelling grows louder.
"Look, I'll explain later. All you need to know right now- is that they call themselves The Imperium."
| >>174962
"The Imperium... jeez why does every asshole with a power structure have such a big head... well in any case we can go over the details of this more later. We should focus on how to get us both out of here."
| >>174974
>Suddenly, gunshots! Outside, several soldiers have opened fire on the albinos!
>Seconds later, the albinos begin to get up, despite being filled with lead. At least one of them begins to pull out the metal slugs, only to be shot again and again.
>One of the soldiers affixes a bayonet to their rifle and tries to stab one of the nurses on the ground, only to be pulled roughly forward and cry out as the albino bites into their neck!
| >It's become a melee, with the soldiers emptying entire magazines into the undying- or at least difficult to kill- albinos, while fearful refugees and medical staff alike watch in abject horror.
"We'll never get a chance like this again, geekboy!"
| >>174981
"D-Dammit but..."
>He looks at the fighting group
"*Sigh* they wouldn't listen to me anyways... I'll follow your lead."
| >The nurse flies outside of the tent with you in tow as more soldiers light up the night. In the distance, you can see a helicopter approaching the clinic, with the logo "VT" stamped to the side...
>You head back toward center square and pull into an empty butcher shop as ANGRY NOISES increase outside.
"Ok, I know there's a weak part in the wall around here- do we still have that truck from last time?"
| >>175007
"I mean I told my team I was coming here earlier but I was kind of flying solo on this one... in my defense I wasn't expecting the one day I show up here to be civil war."
| >>175011
"...oh hell." >She shifts the dirt on the ground.
"I... uh... didn't really think of an escape plan, either."
| >>175014
"Oh..."
>There's a pregnant pause as the situation sinks in
"Uh... so I shouldn't make this suggestion but... doesn't the clinics have an exit outside...?"
| >>175015
"They did at one point, yeah. Until they started building the walls *around* it." >The girl says, peeking outside through a hole.
"They just keep expanding the bloody thing. At this rate the whole park is going to turn into an army encampment."
| >>175038
"I could had sworn I saw a clinic opening right before coming in here... so uh... what do to? I can try calling the team but that might take a bit."
| >>175088
"If you have some explosives stored in that cybereye, that might wo- wait a minute. How did *you* get in here?"
| >>175093
"There was a loose panel in the wall towards the back of the place. This kid showed me for some food money."
| >>175097
"Can you lead us back there? Preferably without us getting dissected and turned into recycled silverware?"
| >>175110
"You know, it's moments like this that make me glad I have a minimalist Aug design. Come on let's hurry."
>CN checks that the coast is relatively clear before heading back to the spot
| >>175125
>You head back to the spot where it feels like you started this particular adventure over a month or more ago- you try to remove the piece of scrap blocking your exit, even as a black helicopter leaves overhead, shots of weapons fire bursting from it back toward the ground.
| >>182243
>Glory starts pushing her weight into the scrap heap as cheering springs up behind you! There's a crowd of people coming this way!
| "Oh what the hell... What now?"
>CN keeps pushing as he glances behind at what the source of the noise is.
"I don't suppose they're here you help are they..."
| "Nope, NOPE NOPE NOOOPE!" >Glory says, resorting to kicking the sheet of metal!
"THIS, IS, RIDICULOUS!" >She yells as she kicks the metal scrap, causing it to fall away, and both of you with it!
| "QUICK, LET'S MOVE!"
>CN quickly gets up and drags Glory up as well and begins running
| >>182284
>You quickly disappear into the throng of weary hobos, the line from ~~over a month- er, I mean, a few hours~~ ago still there, even now.
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| >Neko Park resembles the way it previously looked when it was destroyed the first time- even with the removal of bodies, debris, and the reinstallation of the underground road plates, there is an unmistakably thick air of tension within the once relaxing park.
>The hobo city has expanded yet again- only this time the walls have been reinforced with bits of sheet metal, old spinner and car parts, and have had gun ports built in sections along the wall. There are a few watch towers.