>C. Wait & Gather
Alright, you decide to take the more careful route and gather more information. With your AW fully charged, you'll be able to make a quick escape if things go badly.
Speaking of, you take a moment to check its current progress. It's less than 50% but should still be following your estimation... Roughly.
"I'll crash at your place after I scope out the compound." You lay out the rest of the plan for the next day. But you don't mention to her how you'll be dipping right after.
Eiko nods, expression neutral, "Works with me."
You hand over the ITEMS then climb into the backseat while Eiko gets into the driver side. You wouldn't want anyone to spot you next to her before you both fully arrive.
After she's situated, she examines one of the ITEMS with a curious eye. A PLASMA GRENADE. Hell of a burst on that one with a range of almost 25 feet.
But she takes a beat too long to be comfortable. For a moment you're on edge, hand on the hilt of your knife that you keep tucked away in your other sleeve.
....
It feels like an entire minute passes before she puts it down in the cupholder. There's no sigh of relief.
Eiko could crash this car if she wanted. Now. Or later. Or maybe straight into the compound. She could rat you out to the gang while you're scoping out the building. Or maybe even after while you're at her apartment so you'd be trapped.
Logically, you know she wouldn't (probably), and you aren't going to do anything about it (yet). But it's there in your mind. And it never leaves no matter how quiet you make it.
Eiko glances at you from the rearview mirror, "So, I heard you're from a different world. What's that like?"
The question pulls you out of your thoughts and you laugh, "Hah man. I barely remember my home dimension." You mainly have vague recollections, "It was like this, but more modern. Lots of screens everywhere." You had a big family once. Siblings. The colors of them are washed out through the thin paper of your mind.
Eiko's ears perk up, "Woah like in the movies? Did you guys have flying cars too?"
You shake your head, "Nah, nothing that advanced. There were robots but they weren't too smart yet." You went to school at some point then dropped out. You couldn't afford it anymore.
"Oh, did they take peoples' jobs too?"
"Some of them did. Most of them were made for shit like war." Does your family miss you? You haven't thought about it. In your mind, there's nothing to return to.
"... How do you travel?" That time you left to take that angel's wings was the last time you'd ever see your home dimension.
You groan playfully, "You know, if you're going to ask me 30 questions, you should answer some of mine." You lean more in your seat, glancing at the passing city.
Eiko looks at you again but nods, looking embarrassed, "Um, yeah, sure."
"What were you doing before the gang?"
There's a pause and she leans forward in her seat, "I was an architecture major." She opens her mouth like she's going to say more before switching the words, "I- You didn't answer my question."
"Magic." You keep your tone blunt. "Why did Julien kill your brother?"
Her grip on the wheel tightens. "Because he's a greedy bastard." You guess 'he' means Julien here. But you know there's more to the story.
"Can I learn magic?"
"Only if you're exposed to it or someone teaches you. Are you from the area?"
She pauses, "I am. I grew up here. Can you teach me magic?"
You snort, "Ask me something else."
Eiko shoots back, "How'd you get those scars on your face?"
Automatically, your fingers go to trace the scars. The tissue still aches every now and then. In this moment, it burns like the sting of metal as it leaves flesh, your face coloring red.
The words come out almost reverent, "An angel gave it to me." Your first gift from your Archangel. She got the drop on you (the first and only time) with such terrifying and unmatched skill that it gets your heart racing every time you recall your first meeting.
It was years? ago. Cycles? Sun rotations. You don't even remember what you were doing, if you were out getting food, or in your hotel, or just fucking off somewhere. Deep enough into your career that you couldn't keep track of just how much shit was tacked on your list.
You just remember spotting someone ahead of you. Standing so still. Like a ghost. The hairs on your neck stood up but you didn't move. Most people approached you with some type of fire. They want something. They burn in their need.
But this was cold. Business.
Thump, thump, thump. Was that your heart?
Your eyes met then. It was icy. Dead.
Were those really a person's eyes?
Then sharp, bleeding, burning pain.
Thank fuck your AW was charged.
They are the only scars you've ever let stay post-regen. You keep them there as a reminder (to her) of her failure to kill you. And how she'll fail every time after.
"Wait, those angels are real?" Eiko seems to ask before remembering to park the car beside an alleyway. "Shit, um, as long as you don't get too close to the building you shouldn't get caught."
She points to this building in the distance. Bingo.
"Cool. I'll be out here then."
You move to exit the car and Eiko hastily adds, "I'll find you after I'm done. It shouldn't take more than an hour. Or two." She nods at you then goes to drive off back to the compound. You watch until she's out of sight completely.
Back to business. Where should you start?
>A) Scope the surrounding buildings from the ground
>B) Enter a business and ask about the area
>C) Climb a building closeby to get a higher vantage point
>D) Get within eyesight of the compound and search the perimeter