Snippet #2606588

Aphelion would have grimaced, had she not wanted to keep a resolute mask. A promise of answers rang more as a run around, and she was starting to wonder if this was a good idea after all. A tiny voice at the back of her head whispered in an annoyingly condescending tone that the elf was playing it smart. It was, admittedly, best not discuss the details of a run out in public. Such things were best left for secure channels or face-to-face meetings. The usual drek one went through to land a job, if they were looking in the right places. She glanced around, feigning absentmindedness, and silently acknowledged that this venue probably was not the most secure dive in Berlin. Then again, what did she know? She had not been in the Flux State for that long. Downing the last of her coffee, Aphelion's back straightened as she laid her palms flat on the bar top. Her skin was beginning to itch. Maybe it was about time they got going.

From his seat, Tam observed the others in silence as they each chimed in. Even the dwarf had returned to the bar, apparently with renewed interest in the proceedings. He elected to keep his mouth shut for now, and tried to get a feel for these runners. The cloaked, dark-haired human who had come in with the waifish elf seemed to have his wits about him, as well as an obfuscated curiosity beneath his dour countenance. By contrast, the other human sat at the bar looked torn between the matter at hand and his own affairs. At least he appeared a businesslike sort. Perhaps he could be counted on. Time- or turmoil- would tell. As he oh-so nonchalantly turned for a better glimpse of the others, their new employer declared it was time to relocate. He shot a look at Aphelion, one she saw coming, and slipped smoothly off of his seat. "I won't be one to lie, you've gotten my curiosity piqued," he informed with a painted on grin. His partner moved to follow, smoothing out her coat. He knew it was just a show, and that she was really feeling her tucked away sword for reassurance. Like a child reaching for their favorite stuffed animal.

That was when Eris stopped, and Tam's gut twisted as apprehension's hand gripped him like a demon from the aether. Their impromptu boss grimly stated, "We really need to leave now," and the cafe exploded. Light poured in through the new entryway as a hulking silhouetted figure lumbered over the broken boards. If that image alone was not striking enough, his weapon sure as hell hammered the situation home. Tam's hands had been reflexively going to his pistols, but they immediately fell right back to his sides as he whirled around, scanning for cover. The only thing that looked half descent was the bar, which he vaulted over with Aphelion right on his heels. A few of the others took a similar route. Tam's ears caught the tell-tale sound of the gun whirring up, the mechanism spinning the monstrosity to life a painful second before it roared a hail of lead across the cafe's interior.

Aphelion, sat beside Tam with her back pressed hard against the bar, glanced at him with barely concealed rage brimming up in the deeps of her eyes. "This is your fault," she blandly informed over the tumult of large caliber rounds.

An indignant scoff clawed up Tam's throat, the only response he bothered to give. His mind was reeling, a thousand contingencies all muddled together in a brutal fist fight for supremacy. His heard was thundering in his ears, every pulse ramming home in his chest and pumping his veins full of epinephrine. This was hardly the kind of drek you got hit with on your average run. Drugged up gang bangers and the occasional opposing runner usually did not merit much of a risk. The quick glance he had gotten of their new found chums practically screamed corporate, and not average security goons, either. Big money, glossy equipment, and probably the tempering training you would expect from SpecOps units. That left them with very few feasible options, most of which involved getting the ever loving fuck out of that kill zone!

Movement in his peripheral was followed by a flash of light and the stench of burning ozone. The blonde elf had fired off a spell, a look of wrath etched across her features. Tam shuffled across the floor, and risked a peek around the edge of the bar. Everything was obscured by smoke, and he was quick to duck back behind cover. If they were equipped with infrared then such a ploy would do little good. He prayed not all of them were properly outfitted, but what were the odds that would be the case? He reached behind his back, fingers sliding into the grooves of his ergonomically designed pistol grips and tightening in a vice grip. Their usefulness was debatable at best, but they were better than nothing.

"Any plans?" Aphelion queried, her eyes settled straight ahead at the ruined shelves lining the cafe's rearmost wall. She felt entirely superfluous. Aside from her pistol, which now rested loosely in her hand, she had nothing. This was the sort of scenario she loathed. Tight quarters with all the gunfire aimed downstream at their heads. She needed cover, space to maneuver in, if she wanted to really flex her worth in a fight.

"Yeah," Tam huffed, risking another look, "'Don't get ventilated' would be number one." There came another blast of conjured electricity, this time from the dwarf. He was beginning to curse ignoring any latent talent he might have carried.

"Inspired." Aphelion lazily rolled her eyes. "Anything else?"

"Not really," he belatedly admitted. "That body armor looked properly thick, add on the sheer wall of munitions bearing down on us and we've got a 'you're fucked' cocktail."

"We wait for a pause and run?" Aphelion spared a look at the others. The blonde elf dashed out from cover, a move she considered fairly suicidal. She appeared to forget about it instantly, not that it had seemed to bother her much in the first place.

"That would be the one where we live, yes," Tam nodded. On second thought, he holstered one of his guns and fished out a frag grenade. He worked his mouth thoughtfully, pondering if it would even remotely assist, or just make things even worse. Another quick look revealed the smoke grenade's effects were fading fast.

Eris was suddenly on the both of them, hauling them up as she made a mad rush for the rear exit. Tam bit back his pride- silently wondering what Aphelion's thoughts on the matter were- and followed once he was on his feet. He clamped down on the grenade's pin with his teeth as he rose up, and chucked the live explosive in the general direction of the corporate assholes as a final farewell just before passing through the doorway.

The cold night air was disconcerting, and oddly comforting in a way. It felt like stepping into an entirely separate universe, but he kept after Eris with the others presumably on their heels. Aphelion tore past him, her arms slicing through the air like blades as she sprinted away. Their path made use of a U-Bahn track, and it seemed like they had made it home free. Or, he hoped as much. They eventually arrived at the entrance to what he assumed was the safehouse Eris had mentioned just before the night went to hell. However, apparently the sudden chaos had taken quite a toll on one of their compatriots. The cloaked man rounded on Eris with a fury. Just as Tam was suspecting that perhaps he was not quite as collected as a runner should have been, the man seemed to calm down considerably. The dwarf was having none of it, immediately turning on the man with accusations of her own.. although choosing to focus mainly on his poor choice of timing.

Touché, Tam shrugged internally.

Meanwhile, the blonde elf made her own attempt at settling the contretemps herself. Aphelion, lingering nearby, looked back over her shoulder, watching for any signs of trailing danger. As Tam suspected, the girl wanted little to do with the others' misgivings. Even if she had some of her own.

"Can't we all just wait to kill each other 'til we're safely tucked away, meine freunde?" Tam kept his tone even, and tried not to step on anyone's toes in particular. His philosophy dictated it was best if he potentially pissed off everybody in general. Divisions were never healthy, but he supposed they were to be expected this early, and after nearly getting geeked out of the blue. "I'm sure our fashionably dressed mates back there wouldn't have any qualms of beating us to it, should they catch us out in the cold." He tapped the barrel of his drawn weapon against his leg, a very minor tell displaying a niggling sense of impatience.