//------------------------------// // Chapter 42 - Toward the Everfree // Story: The Freelancers // by OverHeart //------------------------------// “So, uh, Matterhorn was it?” Golden said with a smirk. “Steel tells me you want a way into the Arcology, all sneaky like.” “I have a possible entry point, I just need some help finding where specifically we should breach into the tunnels.” “You just barely escape with your lives and you’re already ready to throw yourselves into the ring again?” Golden continued, equal parts impressed and concerned. “If I were you, I’d give up and go home. What could be so important that you’d risk being killed?” “I can’t provide specifics, but Access and Sheet Rock have a bone to pick with a specific pony who is known to hide out in the Arcology from time to time, we also want the same pony for different reasons.” “We?” “My employers. Their name would mean nothing to you, not that I’d tell you anyway.” “Always with the smoke and mirrors!” Golden chuckled to herself, raising her shoulders into a shrug. “But fine, say we help you, what do we get out of it? Me and my clan need to eat, and somehow, I don’t think we’ll get out of this without drawing the attention of Arcology officials in the process.” “My employers have deep pockets, and the power to make things happen for you. We could work out a trade of sorts. I’m sure some money could go a long way. Just think, entire months without having to raid or steal.” “Two hundred thousand, not a single euro less. That’ll buy you a way in, a way out, and hopefully access to whatever it is you ponies want.” Golden bartered with a smirk on her face. “Then you can do something for us while you’re in there.” Matterhorn sighed. “Fine, consider it done. As long as you follow through on your end of the deal I’ll follow through on mine.” Golden nodded, pushing past an annoyed looking Matterhorn as she started to rifle through the contents of a battered safe. There was a small shuffling sound for some time until Golden produced a paper map, along with a couple of data storage chips, though Matterhorn was skeptical about the benefits of slotting an unknown chip into his head. She placed them onto a folding plastic table and pushed them toward him, with a small gesture that indicated he should take them, which he did, albeit with some apprehension. “That map is probably the most up-to-date you’ll find around here when it comes to the old tunnels. We’ve used them to run goods in and out of the city for a hell of a long time now, and we’ve gotten a lot of use out of them.” Golden began, her expression turning serious. “As for when it comes to getting inside them, there are a few places out the badlands that have entry points, those chips are something like access keys. If that doesn’t work you’ll have to get your hooves dirty and dig to the tunnels.” Matterhorn held one of the chips in his magic. “They’re either keys or they aren’t, why so cryptic? Or is this one of those times where they do what you want but you don’t understand why?” “Frankly, I don’t care what their function is. They got us into the tunnels and now they’ll get you into the tunnels.” Golden grumbled. “Feel free to keep them, I have many a copy.” Lucky laughed at the two Netrunner’s collective expense. She knew full well their little appeal to Matterhorn’s good nature would fail, much to the irritation of Sheet Rock, who by now had turned an angry shade of red again. “See what I mean? He’s conditioned to follow orders at all times, specifically the orders of his handler.” Matterhorn stepped out of the small office on the far side of the building, chips and map in hoof, smile on his face. He walked over to everyone, pulled up a small folding table, and placed the chips and map upon it triumphantly. Access peered at the chips, as did Sheet Rock who felt some degree of apprehension. “I have our way in. As I thought, there’s a system of tunnels beneath us with many an entry point. Our nomad friends have been using them to run goods for years now, so they should be at least partially clear.“ “At last, some good news!” Star said thankfully. “Where are we headed?” Matterhorn unrolled the wrinkled, and yellowed, map and pointed at a point not far from where they were now. There was a small maintenance hut seemingly out in the middle of nowhere among some dried up lakes that hid a stairwell, locked with an effective, but still vulnerable system that shouldn’t prove much of a problem to a professional. Once they were in, they could follow Golden’s map toward the Arcology and enter unseen. After that, they would need to follow the original plan assuming Arcology security weren’t looking for them. Access and Sheet Rock would be relegated to support roles this time around, and would be on hoof to deal with any electronic security they might encounter, while Matterhorn and Lucky would be doing what they did best, and that was tackling the more violent security measures. Star would be their ace in the hole however, as it was highly likely anyone they dealt with inside would be a Bat Pony and thus far more likely to speak to another Bat Pony. Matterhorn rolled the map back up, hoofing one of the chips to Sheet Rock. “Once we’re in, we are to stick to the original plan, that has not changed. Does everyone remember their specific roles?” Everyone nodded in agreement. “Good, Steel’s waiting outside. Golden assures me he’ll get us to our entry point in one piece.” The crew filed out the door one after another, but Lucky held Matterhorn back by his shoulder with a serious glare. She wasn’t happy in the slightest about being kept in the dark, and it showed. “What did the Director say to you when you reported in?” she asked tersely. “You took far too long for a simple report.” “My orders! What else would she have said?” Matterhorn said, barging past Lucky in a huff. “Move your backside, okay? If we lose Riot again I wont be the one taking the fall for it.” “I have to wonder why she gave our orders to you and not me, I am the one who’s supposed to be in charge you know.“ “Does it matter?” Matterhorn joined everyone outside, followed closely behind by Lucky. Steel twirled a set of keys around his hoof, whistling all the while. He’d dug out an old, beaten, and rusted flatbed truck that looked outdated the moment it was built goodness knows when, and it looked about ready to fall apart at any moment. It was just large enough to fit them all plus their gear in the rear, although it was quite the squeeze it was the most inconspicuous way to cross the Badlands given that they looked like trouble and stuck out like a sore hoof. “Now I know it isn’t exactly classy, but it’ll get us there and back, probably. Don’t matter if it don’t anyway, since I assume you’ll be on your way once your business is concluded?” “If all goes to plan you we’ll be out of your mane once our transport arrives.” Lucky assured. “Will Golden have any problem with our people meeting us at the depot?” “Probably not, though I don’t think she’ll get much choice on the matter. I’ll try and convince her before you get back. I’ll grovel and beg if I have to!” Steel said chuckled gruffly. “Now, that’s enough talk. Mount up and we’ll be off, daylight’s burning.”