Somnambulance [Retconned]

[Toaster]

Kreuzberg Depot's cramped hangar bay reeked of oil, toxic fumes, and rust, with an appearance to match. Yet, strangely, the dirty space, with tons upon tons of tools, scrap steel, and partially dismantled ships strewn about gave Olivia a sense of security and comfort. This was not a place the law visited and, therefore, not a place she would need to worry about being arrested. Not that she believed that Rheinland's authorities would bother executing a Libertonian warrant, but setting foot on a Junker base only reinforced her assurance.

Olivia set the crate down on the rusty deck and stretched, exhaustion from the long escape out of Liberty threatening to overwhelm her. The stranger strode down the Dromedary's access ramp behind her, chuckling happily.

"Not the prettiest place around, but they've got decent drinks," he said, stepping up beside the mercenary.

Olivia smiled. "If you ignore the layer of engine oil floating on top."

They both laughed. It felt good, Olivia noticed. Good to be in a safe harbor, good to have something to joke about. She needed it.

She turned to face the stranger and handed him a few credit chits. With a grin, he deftly pocketed them in his black cloak.

"On to New Berlin?" Olivia asked.

He nodded. "Gonna refuel here first, though." Then, with a smile, "Be seeing you around." With that, he turned and strode off, in search of a dock crew to service his freighter. Olivia spent a few moments looking after him until he finally disappeared behind what she figured had once been a Sabre, but now only served as a heap of spare parts for ships in slightly better condition. Taking a deep breath of the station's musty, acrid atmosphere, Olivia picked up the crate and made her way out of the hangar, following directions towards the bar.


- - -


Dex and Brody leaned against a pile of scrap metal, lounging about and watching from afar as the two new arrivals parted ways. The black-clad man walked off towards the rest of the crew, while the tall woman, carrying a valuable looking container, disappeared into one of the corridors that led deeper into the station.

Brody nodded his chin after her. "Thatta chick from tha bulletin. Tha killa."

Dex reached up and pulled the toothpick he had been chewing out from between his teeth. "Yeah, that's her alright."

"Think we can getta bounty?" Brody asked.

Dex nodded. "Yeah. Libbies'll pay us for sure."

The two men straightened up, grabbed a metal pipe each off the pile and followed the woman down the hallway.

"Hey, lady," Dex called out as they got closer, concealing his makeshift weapon behind his back and nudging Brody to do the same. "You new here?"

The woman paused, then turned to face them. She frowned as she eyed the two men shambling towards her, then nodded.

"Looks heavy, want help?" Brody asked, nodding towards the black crate in her arms.

She shook her head. "Thanks, I'm good." She took a step towards one side of the hallway, positioning herself with her back to a wall, as the two men strode up to her, Brody stepping to one side, Dex to the other.

Ain't stupid, Dex thought, running his eyes over the woman. She didn't look like much; slim, tired, and anxious. He spotted the large sidearm strapped to her right leg, but, holding on to the crate as she did, she wouldn't be able to draw it. Ain't a problem, either.

"You look familiar," Dex said with a shark-like grin. The woman's frown deepened.

"You're mistaking me for someone else," she said quietly.

Brody shook his head with an unfriendly smile. "Nah, we saw ya on tha net."

"Pretty sure the cops up in Liberty'll pay a nice price if we bring you back," Dex went on, taking a step towards the woman. "Now, be a good girl and come quietly, or we get nasty." He swung his metal pipe out from behind his back for her to see.

The woman's frown vanished. "Not going to happen," she replied coldly.

In a sudden burst of motion, the woman tossed the heavy crate at Brody. It struck him in the chest, sending him stumbling back with a groan. At the same time, she lunged towards Dex, reaching out with one hand for the pipe, with the other for her holstered sidearm. Dex yelped in surprise and swung at her, only for her to catch the weapon in her outstretched hand and with surprising strength wrench it clear of his grip. The woman spun around him in a flourish, striking at him with the hijacked pipe and raising her pistol at Brody in one fluent motion. He, having recovered from his initial surprise and the impact of the crate, charged at her, his own metal shaft raised high over his head for a downward blow.

Dex cried out as the woman's pipe struck him between the shoulder blades, forcing him to his knees. Then. a deafening blast echoed through the corridor as the woman fired her gun, aiming low for Brody's legs. He howled in pain and tripped as a bullet tore through his left shin, his forward momentum sending him sprawling onto the floor with a loud crash. Dex struggled back to his feet just in time to watch the woman stride over to Brody and ram her metal pipe down into the back of the man's head with a crack and a squelch.

"Holy shit!" He cried, eyes wide.

The woman turned on him, raised her pistol, and fired.

---

Olivia Sable