Ch.5 Underhive

Holmes was pissed, not only he had to go Terra's most dangerous underhive, he had to go unarmed. Not only that, he has a safeguard with loose screws in tow.

Walking angrily in the hallways, Holmes notices something going on.

'Ah yes, the day just couldn't get any better.'

Holmes saw the safeguard he was in charge of being surrounded by a couple of enforcers. From the looks of it, she was getting the talk, and this group of enforcers was clearly about to get violent. Holmes calmly walks towards the entourage. As Holmes gets closer he notices Target's crooked smile, clearly uncomfortable. Holmes hears the enforcer say something.

"As I was saying, Safeguard does get priority supply! But you need to leave some for everyone! You are practically robbing the armory clean every day! How many times we have to tell you!-"

"What's the hold-up enforcer?"

Holmes decides to interject in the ongoing one-sided argument to attempt to defuse it. The enforcers sent him a couple of glares, clearly none too happy about him butting in.

"What do you want "hero"?"

The enforcer said emphasizing the word hero. Holmes frowned at his newly gained nickname, how many is it now? He doesn't care.

"As I said, what's the hold-up? this isn't the place to be getting angry now, enforcer."

"Tsk, we're just teaching this safeguard a little lesson, you see she-"

"I don't care, enforcer, I'm asking you what's the hold-up?"

Holmes changes his tone to make his intention clear using his higher authority.

"Asshole-"

Suddenly, just about when the enforcer was going to walk towards him, an arm stopped him in his tracks.

"What's in it to you, hero?"

Another man joins in the conversation. The well-built taller man is wearing a detective badge just like Holmes. He looked like Holmes if Holmes decided to shave his hair and get muscle.

"And who are you?"

Holmes asked impatiently.

"I'm CD-7428, Jerico. So what's in it to you?"

"This safeguard is under my charge, frankly these enforcers are delaying my subordinate from completing our designated mission, a violation of THE company's code of conduct."

Jerico nodded and suddenly smiled and loudly said

"You hear that everyone? Top Gun and Hero joined forces! I can't imagine the headache of HR!"

The enforcers laughed and so did a couple of bystanders. Suddenly Jerico got close and started sizing him up. Holmes just stood there motionless

"You sound like you're making it your mission only. Oh? confused? that's right. We're on the job as well. So why don't we make a bet? frankly, the holder of the best detective of JSE is undeserved. why don't we see whoever catches the "Baron" first? What do you say, hero?"

Holmes gave Jerico challenging looks.

"We'll see. safeguard, get a move on."

Jerico laughed as he and his enforcers left. While Target walked away while smiling at him thankfully and saying loudly.

"Thanks, partner!"

This caused another round of laughter in the hallways.

Holmes walked his way toward the vehicle transit. Reaching it, he waited and waited as cars passed by him and people. But his car isn't coming. When finally a fully armored military-grade wheeled truck monstrosity stopped in front of him, and the shutters opened, revealing a certain safeguard with a cheery face.

"Get in!"

said the overly happy safeguard.

...

..

.

The four-wheeler truck that looked more like a bunker-sized land fortress drove down the road, Land-only cars are illegal and land roads can only be used by the government, every road is practically covered with surveillance, the worst part is that. Despite the road being practically unmaintained and only used by PDFs it was still pristine. A test of a testament of the old federation.

"Great! Just great!"

Holmes said, clearly irritated. Meanwhile, Target was humming happily. Holmes's day couldn't get any worse. Then the safeguard starts yapping.

"What's wrong? Not feelin' comfortable?"

Holmes sighed and said.

"Where did you get this piece of hunk anyway? I'm sure it's illegal to own a land vehicle that doesn't use a federal navigation system!"

"-hehe, this bad boy? I call him Rex. I got it on the underhive black market auction. It is worth every intercoin. Federal Navigation System? I don't like those things, you're practically begging to get ambushed with those! Flying cars? good luck dodging anti-air! Since I'm allowed to own this stuff! Don't worry about it partner! Anyway, Rex is armed with four racks of homing missiles, one laser Gatling shooter, a heavy mortar, oh that thing on the back that looks like a mech? That's a Tachyon Model P Guardian Mech, it had been phased out hundreds of years ago, but it still works wonders."

Hearing the safe confess to her crimes of corruption, Holmes nearly receives a headache. Looking at the

"Just because you're a safeguard doesn't mean you should break the law!

I'm pretty sure will be stopped soon by the PDFs!"

Just as expected. A drone quadcopter soon starts flying beside them. Probably to check the vehicle IR code. But the unexpected then happened, Holmes was sure he was going to spend a day in jail, but then the drone just flew away.

"See, I told you we will be fine!" Said Target happily.

"How? I don't even want to hear it."

Target is too happy and obliged undeservingly.

"You see, this big boy had PDF clearance when it was..."

"I said don't want to hear it!"

Holmes stopped Target before she confessed more of her crimes.

"Haha! Relax partner, did anyone tell you you're too guarded to be a detective? Usually, you guys are too nosy for your good."

"Did anyone say to you you're too happy for a safeguard? I've never seen one smile until now! Quite frankly it's uncanny!"

"Hehe, what can I say... I'm one of a kind! So where are we going, partner?"

Asked Target as she gave Holmes a sideway glance while smiling.

"Head to these coordinates. *beep*"

Holmes sent a data packet to Target's computer implant.

"Oh? We're heading to the dumps down the slums, then downwards to the most dangerous underhive to meet some unknown informant. Sounds fun. Just hope that we don't get some crossfires as we pass. I heard some gangers are having a field trip over there today. tsk tsk tsk."

Target said looking forward to whatever could happen.

"Nothing new, there's no day where the slums isn't a warzone for crimes. And with this rolling piece of junk, I doubt we won't get shot." Holmes said as he pointed at Terra's PDF logo.

"Oh, that? We will not get shot because of that! It's the opposite unless someone wants the whole PDF to come bearing their wrath. No one will shoot at us. Plus -...*whispers* rumors have it the PDF has some dealing with gangers around Terra. Don't know the details though." said Target carefully

"Hmph! Corruption in the bureaucracy? tell me something new. Who funds the PDF anyways, we're practically in the deepest regions of Tyrion Arm and the core of Federation, no aliens we'll come here, just leave the cleaning up of criminals to us security corpos..."

Target only nodded in agreement. But there was a dangerous glint in her eyes when talking about the PDF, Holmes noticed it.

As they get closer to the slums, nonstop gunshots and explosions can be heard from the distance heights. Luckily they were driving down an empty road. The two tensed up and didn't talk again until they reached their destination.

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End