Occupation

.7
Occupation

Leaning against the foundational pillar of the bridge Lorenzo, along with Bruno, awaited the arrival of Deathwatch. The wildcard he held in his hand, cautious of how and when he would play it. He couldn’t cycle through the various outcomes in his head before one of his men descended the stairway, Keyon and company right behind them. Tossing his cigarette to the ground and crushing the cherry beneath his well-shined shoes he Straightened up, standing on his own two.

“Now that we are all here it is time that we got this little trip of ours underway.”

The escort tipped his hat to Lorenzo and made his exit back up the stairs to the streets above. The rest squarely fell on the shoulders of Lorenzo from here on out.

“As you can imagine we cannot be moving around the colony in a group of this size. So, for now we will be splitting into two groups.

“Roland and the young lady you two will be riding along with Bruno in the first boat. “Seth and
the silent one, you two will be with me in the second boat. The plan is to navigate through Dock Town’s underway and regroup on land by the shores of the northside. If you have any questions, you can save them till after we clear this part of the journey. The sun should be rising Soon, so we need to move fast if we want to stay concealed.”

Wasting no time and getting to the point, he threw his travel bag over his shoulder, turning his back toward the others and casually walked toward his vessel. Keyon and Shima shared a brief glance at each other before going toward their respective groups. Keyon along with Seth followed behind their guide. Shima and Roland went with Bruno aboard the first boat. Using the oar that came along with the vessel, Bruno pushed away from the landing underneath the bridge.

Once settled into the second boat, Lorenzo paddled off following Bruno northeast toward the east side of Coastal Garden, better known to the colonists as Dock Town. Constructed of makeshift wooden huts and platforms that connected years old buildings semi submerged from rising sea levels. Littered with multi-level walkways, the colonists would use the towering buildings as living quarters and shop fronts in all sorts of creative ways. Lorenzo knew well that the layout of the eastside with its numerous waterways provided the best route to bypass the colony center, and the greater concentration of New Aurora forces. They also made it harder for any drones flying overhead to spot them.
“What is your name?”

He questioned the silent one in the entourage. His oar cutting through the water, the moonlight reflecting brilliantly on its surface.

“Keyon.”

“Keyon huh, it has a nice ring to it, I like it. Nice to formally meet you, I wish it were under better circumstances, but we cannot choose the cards we are dealt.”

“You mean to say you didn’t enjoy your long-winded introduction?”

“You only get one shot at a good introduction; me I make the most of mine.”

Lorenzo smirked, pushing the vessel at a steady pace as the two passengers in his boat looked upwards at the wooden bridges as they passed underneath. Cautious of when he pushed the vessel and when he let it coast, Lorenzo masterfully maneuvered through the waves of the night. Keyon the silent type, reserved and always focused, was not one for words. The ship’s captain on the other hand was but not wanting to give too much away about himself to Keyon and Seth, was closed off. Resorting to fishing attempts to get information out of them.

On Bruno’s vessel Shima interlocked her fingers and started drawing on her essence. To the other two men aboard the boat it appear like she was simply meditating. But in fact, she was scanning the surrounding areas for Salamance and his goons.

“You’re not nervous are you, Shima?”

Her leader questioned, watching his subordinate, thrown off by her demeanor.

“A little mental preparation can go a long way; captain we have a lot riding on our success.”

Bruno was silent absorbing the conversation as his large stature allowed him to easily cut through the water. Stronger than his ability to push a boat, Bruno’s strong will gave him the strength to stay silent and stone faced, the grasp on his oar tightening.

“Just like him always focused on what’s ahead.”

Roland remarked, his features shrouded in darkness as the boat coasted under one of the many bridges.

Back on Lorenzo’s vessel, the young mafioso continued his fishing attempts on his passengers. This time he threw his line in Seth’s direction in hopes of pulling something out of the group’s tech wizard.

“Someone with your talents with technology why aren’t you working in the mega cities?”

He smartly complimented lowering Seth’s defenses; a small smile appeared on Seth’s face as he recounted the events that landed him in this boat.

“Surprisingly enough, I use to be in the New Aurora tech division, but…”

There was a long pause before Seth continued, fiddling with his fingers, and looking at the floor of the vessel with an emotionless expression.

“Events that happened years ago, let us just say that they did not sit too well with me. So, I joined up with Roland to make things right in my own way.”

Lorenzo and Keyon listened close as he took the bait and started to spill his guts.

“Then once I was on the outside looking in the picture became much clearer.”

“I could only imagine what it is like on the inside, me I have always been on the outside.”

Lorenzo inserted into the conversation wanting to keep Seth engaged and involved in the conversation. Keyon on the other hand was growing wise with Lorenzo’s strategy. But let it play out, not caring that Seth was giving away information about himself, knowing it had no bearing on the mission. Knowing that he, himself would not give Lorenzo the luxury of that victory.

“It is a sick joke, that you can only really understand if you experienced it for yourself. When you get to Busaya you will see what I’m talking about.”

While the conversation continued onward Keyon watched as the two vessels carrying the party exited the waterways of Dock town and the coast of Coastal Garden’s northside district could be seen in the distance. He looked ahead at the boat carrying Shima and Roland and caught sight of Shima releasing her technique. Surprised that she even thought of activating it in the first place.

***

Coastal Garden became illuminated by the deep hues of yellow and gentle brush strokes of oranges from the rising sun. Hiding inside the withering shadows of the buildings in the colony center a group of three men draped in religious robes watched as patrol vehicles darted down the roads.

“Salamance, this is turning into a wild goose chase. That explosion could have been from anyone and anything, we should…”

“ If you want to turn tail and go back to the village empty handed then that is your choice. They are here, I know it, think about it and you too will see it. We have been hot on their heels since he abandoned the village, and he brainwashed Shima into following him. Out of all the groups the two have collaborated with, Deathwatch is the only one extreme enough to do something like this. It stems from their psychotic leader.”

Salamance raised his voice, cutting off his cohort before he could complain any further.

“It is already hard enough dealing with Shima’s sensory and the fact that Locke and Ki are looking for them as well. I don’t need you slowing me down.”

“Yeah, now is not the time to faulter Salis do not forget why we are out here in the first place. It is important that we retrieve the sacred ink that was stolen. I’m sure you understand the significance of it to the village.”

“yeah, but is that what we are here for? Or is it, Shima?”

Salamance didn’t hesitate and punch Salis in the mouth and watch as he tumbled to the ground.

“The village comes first do not ever question that, regardless of what you assume is weakness for that woman, she too will face the consequences for her actions”

The other monk was quiet and watched the scene play out.

“I agree with Salamance so could you two please stop your bickering the last thing any of us need is for one of these soldiers seeing or hearing us.”

He finally spoke as Salamance stood over Salis staring intensely at him. His facial features eased and through slow, proper breathing tempers were cooled.

“Your right, and with daybreak upon us it is important that we got off the streets. Things could get ugly if we must defend ourselves against these guys. Our best bet going forward should be to get out of this colony and recon the choke points. With the army here they will not be able to leave through that many points.”

Salamance extended his hand out to Salis to help him up from the ground. Salis brushed off his clothes and looked up at Salamance, who only looked back at Salis for a moment before turning to face his other cohort Gama. Who, unlike Salis, had no misconceptions of his resolve or reasons he was out here with the others.

“Speaking of Shima, have you figured out a way around her sensory, otherwise Salis is correct when he says this might just be a wild goose chase.”

“Nothing that won’t put us all at high risk. My manipulation of essence isn’t on the level of Locke’s in that regard. We are going to have to work within the windows of opportunities we are given. But enough with the idle chatter things are starting to get heavy out here, we need to get moving.”

All around the colony, soldiers in the employ of New Aurora stormed and began to raid the several locations well documented for their dealings with the criminal underground. Going as far as targeting high ranking members of the four organizations. Confiscating all tech that they came across all in the hopes of finding evidence of the culprits in the bombing. A vehicle came to a stop outside the transportation office that was now being guarded heavily by soldiers. Stepping out of the vehicle a man in his late twenties accompanied by an entourage of bodyguards took a good look at everything around him. Unlike the soldiers around him, this man did not sport any armor or holster any form of weaponry. His emerald green eyes shifted back and forth as he took it all in. The scene outside of the Transportation office was hectic as members of the armed forces went over every inch of the property with a fine-tooth comb. Trying to paint a picture of what had happened in the hours prior to their arrival on location.

“Sir, the transportation director is on scene and is coordinating with T.R.D. as we speak, as well the new ensigns are going over the buildings data logs and surveillance footage from the night before.”

The man didn’t say anything, taking in the report the soldier gave him on the situation that he arrived to.

“And what about my brother? Has he arrived here as well?”

The high-ranking officer questioned, the two of them making their way toward the main entrance of the building, his bodyguards close behind. Passing through the soldiers that made way for them as they did so.

“Yes, he is aiding the strike team with the raids in the western section of the colony as we speak. There has not been much in the forms of reports since the operation started, but by the chatter coming in over the comms it seems things are going smoothly.”

The man only nodded his head as troops guarding the doors to the building held the doors open for the man and his bodyguards. Walking through the front doors of the transportation office the group felt the pleasantly cool air of the office’s air conditioning. Just like the scene outside, the interior was no different as ensigns went over everything, not wanting to let anything go undiscovered.

“The director is in his office at the top of the staircase. The techies should be finishing their meeting with him now.”

“ thank you, we can take it from here. Be sure to give it your best, let’s not let any stone go unturned. These criminals whoever they may be could do untold damage with the tech they took from this building.”

The guide saluted his superior before walking off to continue his own search of the building.

***

The waves slowly lapped against the shore of the north side of Coastal Garden. The morning sun creeping higher into the sky above the rotting skyscrapers of Dock town. Lorenzo and company disembarked their respective sea fairing vessels and beached them. Regrouping at the bottom of a set of stairs leading to the roads of the northside. The main turf of the Snake organization in Coastal Garden and the secondary exit to the colony. The exit Lorenzo had planned to use to smuggle the group out of the colony. But before that could happen Lorenzo needed to Shepperd his flock through the dangers not only presented by the New Aurora raids but by the Ox organization’s scouts that could be moving in through the cover of the raids, plotting against their rivals. He too was using the raids to his advantage as well, watching as the cards he played earlier come into effect now sent a rush of excitement throughout his body. The expert tactician couldn’t help himself and reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and took out the metal case housing his cigarettes and an antique lighter. Removing a single stick from the case he rested it on his lip. Lorenzo cupped his hands around the end of the cigarette and with lighter in hand sparked the flint. Igniting the flame. Taking in prolonged drag of the dried herbs’ calming components started to ease Lorenzo’s excitement and replaced it with a soothing sense of euphoria. Closing his eyes and exhaling the smoke through his nostrils, the young mafioso opened his eyes and looked at the gathering of misfits before him and only spoke four simple words.

“Now the fun begins, follow me.”

Lorenzo walked up the stairs, his cigarette in hand, Lorenzo casually escorted his flock through alleyways and backyards. Avoiding the eyes of New Aurora forces descending upon the district in waves. Sticking to the cover of the shadows, the group moved quickly through the narrow streets of Coastal Garden’s north side. A district marked by it beautiful brick buildings that managed to retain its charm despite decades of weathering. Lorenzo looked around the corner, holding his hand up he stopped the group in their tracks.

“Change of plan, come this way we need to get off the streets, now!”