Task Orientated

Part 1.3

She steps into the left, giving me a view of the quickly darkening lobby.

Four windows, two of which boarded over. Dust covered brown plaster walls. Harshly worn-down tiles. I jolted to my left, after hearing Vanessa trying the light switch. She smirks, then flicks her head forward.

We walk forward, stepping down into a worn in path in the tiles.

Vanessa kneels, flicking on her harness torch.

In the sterile blue LED light, we get a better look at this shallow trench.

"Look at this wear," Vanessa said running her stripped hand over the tiles, "something heavy has worn a real deep path... man, must've been stomping about for years... it's hard to say which way its going or where from..."

I kneel beside her, turning on my helmet's lights. "There's a ridge in the centre, fairly wide gait," I commentate, "I reckon it's a security bot. Maybe a C-15?"

Vanessa nods, "uh, bit wide for a stock C-15. Maybe older, or even modified."

I stand up, "we'll find out soon enough, it's probably looking for us."

"Left, or right?" Vanessa asked, "which way do you wanna check, Birdy?"

"I think we should stick together," I say, "better odds against a sapiens class bot."

Vanessa chuckled, "sure, and here I was thinking you just liked having me around."

I pause, letting the cold stare sink in.

"I'm kidding," Vanessa spoke matter-of-factly, "now come on, we gotta a hall to check."

I followed Vanessa into the right corridor.

It wasn't long before we found ourselves working in a pattern. I'd open a door, and Vanessa would leap in waving her rifle about. Then I'd follow, and she'd make some remark about the contents of the room.

Like, "lotsa paintings, wonder how you could sleep with so many eyes pointed at you."

Or, after almost tripping a fallen over cupboard, "fuck, who fired the help?"

She'd do this for each of the six rooms on the right side of the corridor. Our routine was reversed for the left lot of rooms. I'd open the door and jump forward, quickly check the room and then we'd move to the next.

Except the last door, boredom had taken hold and I decided to kick the door open and roll in.

"And you called me over the top," Vanessa said stepping in.

I stood up and stepped towards the door, "nothing in here..."

"I can see that Audax," Vanessa said, stepping towards the dresser footing the bed, "why the hell do they have so many fucking lamps? There's three in this room alone!"

Almost playfully she knocks the one sat atop the dresser to the floor with the muzzle of her rifle, with a bemused, "oops. Are you getting sick of all these empty rooms Audax? I know I am. Nothing but old Rich people shit as far as the eye can see."

"Least this wing is empty," I said while nodding, "let's keep at it. C'mon. Let's not quit now."

"Right... no breaks – because Audax Aquila doesn't stop until the job is done."

"Sooner we're done, the sooner we can go home."

"The sooner I'm gone, the faster you can get that mask off, right?"

I shook my head and stepped out of the room, playing right into Audax Aquila but stewing my insides. Why was Audax like this to her? She's been an outstanding friend for a long time...