>>6334886[2/3]
Coming up the stairs from the basement, you saw the old Italian-sounding man still sitting on his bench, this time alone. You approached him earnestly.
<span class="mu-i">"Hey, do you know where I can find Machine Shop Seven? I got a new work assignment, but I didn't get told how to get there."</span> you asked as he looked you up and down.
He exhaled slowly, a soft whistle escaping his lips. <span class="mu-i">"Not a bad draw there, kid. You go up the North checkpoint, it's just in the neighboring block. The little white building with all the stuff piled outside."</span>
<span class="mu-i">"I'm</span> <span class="mu-b">Lucas Pellegra</span><span class="mu-i">, by the way. Who are you?"</span>, he adds.
Fuck! Is he the <span class="mu-r">Lucas</span> from the briefing note, the one that burned the last Malignant? It couldn't be a coincidence, how many people named Lucas could there possibly be in this block? Did you just fuck up the 'avoid' part of the message with the first person you'd properly spoken to?
<span class="mu-i">"Hugo."</span> you absentmindedly blurt as your brain skips. <span class="mu-i">"Pleased to meet you."</span>
The Italian nods as you excuse yourself and head out the front door and into the darkening spring evening. As you walked towards the northern block checkpoint, your attention was grabbed by the building just before it. Lit up, with windows through which you could see shelves and displays containing all sorts of sundry items, scavenged goods, and knick-knacks. A proper shop. From the outside you could see that the person manning the store inside was dressed differently, not like a Civil Protection unit and not like a regular Citizen. They looked cleaner, healthier, less beaten-down. They stood as straight as an arrow from behind their counter, watching the scant patrons of their store as they made their selections. You continued on, making a note to check out the shop when you had some time.
With slightly more confidence than your first interaction back at the RDT you stated your identity to the CP officer at the head of the checkpoint. After a few seconds of uncomfortable staring, during which you wondered if there was some sort of system you were being checked against, you were waved through a pair of bright blue glowing barriers, another camera flash surprising you as you tensely strode into the neighboring block.
