How are you gonna go?

"Aaahhh- fuck you, Vektor!"

He cursed aloud, spatting on the ground. Laughter echoed from the other side.

Vektor and Viktor, despite sounding and looking almost identical, had subtle yet distinct differences.

It was like Viktor was an older version of Vektor. Or wait—no, no, no, it was the other way around. Vektor seemed more like an older version of his brother, Viktor.

"I'm at the crash site, Axie. Your car is a wreck. Torn apart, bit by bit. It's gonna be a hefty job to fix it up, kid."

"Can you fix it?"

"Yeah, I can fix it, but it's gonna cost you. Better be ready to empty your piggy bank, boy."

"Uh, yeah. I'll figure it out."

Axel couldn't scrape together enough to cover the car's repair bill, even though it was the most precious thing he owned, apart from Byte, of course. He shot a venomous glare at the smiling woman, the very source of all his troubles.

"Wait until I finish up this gig, I'll pay you handsomely, you handsome devil."

"That wordplay might fly with my idiot brother, but not with me. You better come through on that gig and get paid, or else you'll be in for a shock when you see me riding your boss, Axie."

"Hey!" He shouted.

For a moment, his mind wandered to the exact scene Vektor had just described. He pictured the imposing figure of Vektor, with his massive frame, riding atop his small 'Boss.' Vektor's muscular arms rested casually on the door as he cruised down the deserted street, while Axel himself trudged along on foot.

The thought of Vektor halting the car momentarily, adjusting his sunglasses with a flick of his finger, and then casually asking him for a ride sent shivers down his spine.

'What a terrifying thought!'

Officer Alacantar couldn't stifle her laughter any longer. Vektor heard her amusement from the other side.

"Is that a woman? Oh, you sly dog. I never knew you were into that kind of thing."

"Oh, fuck off!"

Axel's face flushed crimson, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks until he felt like he could cook a steak on his own head.

"No, no, no. You fuck her good. Fuck her senseless. Fuck her until the bed breaks."

"Shu-shut up, you freaking perv. Ah. I gotta go; I'm in a police station, can't afford to get arrested, y'know."

"Haha. See ya, Axie. Tell hi to Byte for me and Axie..."

"Yeah?"

"...It's good to know you're okay, brother."

"Sure, Vektor."

Vektor hung up, and a wave of immense relief washed over him. It felt as though he had just completed a strenuous task. He wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead.

"I see you have friends, Mr. Axel. You should invite him for a cup of coffee."

Quinn suggested. She was feeling a bit lonely in the office; the last time she had company was just a week before, and now her force was reduced to just enough to count on her fingers. More than half of them were in the hospital, recovering.

Her body was in a complete mess. Her cyberwares were jumbled. Her mind a wreck from the losses.

"Nah, Vektor won't even glance our way. He's in his personal paradise, scavenging anything and everything for car upgrades. It's like he's on a first-name basis with every rusty bolt in town. That's his love affair right there."

"Is every friend of yours like you? Strange and stranger."

"I'm the most normal one. You haven't seen the other weirdos."

"Oh, I can imagine the others if you're the sane one, Mr. Hero."

She mocked him.

"Shut it," he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"Like the Legate said, we ain't got any resources to feed you, dear hero. Are you planning to stay in that cell?"

It was then that he realized he was still standing inside the cell even long after the Legate had left. He opened the cell hurriedly and stepped out, with Byte following suit, gracefully stretching her legs.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Officer Alacantar. I've to leave now or else I'll miss my chance to earn my money."

"Please, just call me Quinn. No need for the unnecessary honorifics," she insisted.

He nodded in agreement. Quinn was simple. The other name was a pain in the ass to pronounce, so he was glad.

"Where are you going?" she inquired.

"Little Maw."

"Little Maw? Are you kidding me? 350 kilometers away. And how you gonna go there? On foot? Uh? Or hitchhiking?"

Axel came to a sudden halt, pivoting on his heels to face Quinn's question. It was a good one, and he realized he hadn't really thought about it. Walking 350 kilometers in a world crawling with Necro-Bots wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Hitchhiking sounded like a recipe for disaster, considering the horror stories he'd heard.

Lost in his thoughts, Quinn unexpectedly tossed something in his direction. Axel instinctively caught it, and as he unfolded his palm, he found himself staring at a rusty key.

"Take it. It's not the best, but it'll do."

"Uh? What's this?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

Quinn rose from her seat and made her way to the door. Axel, still a bit stunned by the sudden turn of events, quickly scrambled to his feet and followed her. Meanwhile, Byte, showing little interest in the commotion, lazily leapt onto Axel's shoulder, finding a cozy spot while her human slave—correction, friend—made his way toward their next destination.

...

Quinn guided him to the underground garage, the one belonging to Lykos' police station. It looked pretty run-down, with its age showing through rust and wear. The parking spaces were mostly deserted, and half of them were permanently empty, while the other half had suffered damage just last week.

Taking him to the far end, she pointed out a large, rusty iron door. It looked neglected, covered in dirt and cobwebs. Quinn blew away some dust from a square at the center and pressed her palms against it. Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed as the iron door slowly slid aside, unveiling a concealed room.

The smell of dust, rust and old engine oil immediately assaulted his nostrils.

It was pitch-black inside, so dark that Axel struggled to make out anything. Quinn, however, seemed unfazed. She clapped her hands twice, and suddenly, lights flickered to life. It was old technology, not ancient, but definitely outdated.

Axel's eyes widened as he stepped into the room, his heart pounding with anticipation. What he saw inside made his breath catch in his throat, sending shivers down his spine.