Deus Ex: Human Revolution Shadow's Showdown [4]
Chapter 4The Fly Girl,The Jackdaw.Laura probably wouldn't have known this lovely place if Faridah hadn't brought her here. The tavern was decorated in a pirate style with wooden tables, chairs, and benches. Fishing nets were hanging from the ceiling, the pirate flag was also noticed by Laura. Even waiters took care of the right atmosphere. Faridah led her friend to one of the tables at the back, near the wall, where the menu cards were already prepared and waiting for customers. Laura put her backpack on the floor, took off the wet hoodie, and hung it on the backrest of the chair. She fixed the sleeves of a long-sleeved dark grey top and then sat down."I recommend you Tortuga Soup. It is delicious and warms you up well.” she suggested seeing Laura shivered from the cold several times."This is what I need, thank you." It's strange, but she had the impression that she would find a common ground with Faridah and despite the rules which she set earlier, Laura wanted to have a friend in her. It was a simple desire to avoid sitting alone in an empty apartment.They didn't wait too long for orders. The soup was indeed delicious and warded off bad moods."What did you want to talk about?” Laura asked carefully. While waiting for an answer, she continued to eat her portion of soup."About Adam." As Faridah spoke the name, Laura felt her throat tightens. It took her some time to swallow that knot with Jensen’s name written on it. Why him? Out of a million different topics, she had to choose the one that boosts her anger."What about him?" she asked evasively, hoping that she could redirect the conversation to something more pleasant. "Wait a minute, maybe she thinks that he and I... For all the plagues of the world: IMPOSSIBLE!” she thought with an explicit disgust."I know you've been here for a short time and I really don't care where you worked before. It's not my concern. Just don't start your career by making enemies." Faridah said this quite harshly, almost like a warning, but it was hard to find any ill will in it. She just cared for Laura in a manner of an older sister."But I..." she tried to squeeze out a reply while looking at Faridah with her eyes wide open."Adam is doing his job, that's what he is paid for. He is firm and cold because he has to be like that, so don't throw obstacles under his feet. Remember for the future: I can be a far worse enemy than he is." she finished without letting Laura get a word out. Great, now instead of a friend, she has another problem.Laura lowered her gaze to gather thoughts and sighed heavily. On the one hand, she was supposed to be a cold bitch who wants to achieve her goal by playing hardball, and on the other hand, she wasn’t heartless to just hurt anyone without hesitation. Faridah emitted such a calm aura of trust, that a moment more and Laura would tell her whole life story with every spicy detail. "So that was the point." she thought. Everyone except Frank treats Adam like a god or something. Who is he, in fact, that he deserves it?!"If this is so, why did he mock me? Why did he make a fool of me?!" Laura spoke reproachfully, and her eyes burnt with anger. She promised to keep it for herself and only for herself, but she needed to confide in someone. Apparently, the easiest way is to talk with a stranger."Because you resisted, you tried to play games with him instead of cooperating. That's why you got what you asked for." she explained, helping Laura to understand the whole situation at least a little. "But believe me or not, he doesn't enjoy it at all.""Oh, sure, he's probably hiding in a corner and crying." she hissed. "So now I should kneel before him and beg for forgiveness?!" Laura continued angrily, after a moment of silence. "I'm not going to apologize for something I haven't done, and the great Mr. Jensen doesn't need a defender!" Life has also taught her how to be tough and to deal with all circumstances. Asking for help or apologizing was not written in her nature, as she just remembered. To think that a moment ago, she was ready to fall apart."It is best to leave what has passed and not make the same mistake in the future.” Faridah did not even raise her voice.The force of her calmness inflicted the feeling of guilt and shame on Laura again and again. This feeling swiftly coalesced into something very heavy, a turmoil that overwhelmed her heart and mind. Maybe Fly Girl was right and instead of attacking, she should keep a low profile and stay out of Adam’s sight?"Think it over, girl.” Faridah advised and smiled friendly. „Meanwhile, it's time for me." she bid farewell and raised her hand in a goodbye gesture.Fly girl stopped at the bar before leaving to pay for her lunch.Laura did not want to go home, so she ordered a second bowl of soup and a cup of rum. She wished to get completely drunk and forget about everything.***Sarif Industries. Frank Pritchard's office.Adam did not give up on the matter of Laura. Though everything seemed to be fine at the same time, he felt that something was not as it should be. She appeared in a mysterious way, without his knowledge and checking it beforehand. Each employee of the company went through these procedures. This is the way. If the girl has nothing to hide, why is she acting like this? Why is she fighting with him and trying to cheat on him? It was hard to explain with mere malice. Still, Laura intrigued him more than anyone else. A girl who is like a ghost, a mystery, direct opposition of him, fire for his ice soul. Everything, that could ruin his precisely arranged world. Total chaos. During these short moments spent in her company, he felt so carefree and could remind how is it to laugh.He was not only bound by duties that forced him to follow the rules and regulations. Adam did that also because as an ex-SWAT he didn’t become acquainted well with the off-duty life. If she doesn't understand it, too bad. Besides, he didn't feel like meddling into new male-female relationships, not after what he had been through with Meg. He must admit that part of him still believes that this isn’t over yet, and he can’t just simply let go. Of course, Faridah was the first one who tried to convince him that being a turtle is a bad idea, but she gave up pretty quickly. So he finally decided that Laura would absolutely remain on the formal side of the list of people he knows. It’s the best protection he could create. Just hide behind a solid wall and exist.He stopped in front of Frank's office for a moment. He had to gather his thoughts and prepare spiritually to face him. They did not like each other and did not even try to be nice to each other. Jensen tried to settle all matters quickly, and at the same time not to be provoked by his taunts. He entered without knocking, as always. They had pushed aside all formalities long ago."Jensen, it's just you." Frank croaked from behind the monitor. "What do you want? I'm busy." He grunted reluctantly."Laura Werner – does this ring any bell?” Adam slowly asked, crossing his arms."Of course it does! What a ridiculous kind of question is this?!” he replied angrily and for the first time looked at Jensen. That’s what the head of security wanted to get – his 100% attention."That girl works for you, right? What do you know about her?" he asked openly, knowing that Frank was about to point his lack of knowledge and use it as a weapon."She is NOT just ‘that girl’!" Pritchard raised his voice. "Laura is the best asset I could ever possess. We understand each other without any word. But you're just a lesser being which knows nothing about our language, codes, and COMPUTERS.” Adam wanted to interrupt and say that she’s not a thing either, but Frank didn’t let him speak. "As for that question of yours - Yes, she's been here for a couple of weeks. Does the head of security, the best of the best, top of the top, pinnacle of wisdom, supported by Megan Reed herself, know nothing about it?" His words were like jellyfish burns, but Jensen kept his poker face."If your gracious had honored me and delivered the report as soon as Laura was transferred, I would have known enough." he bit back, pointing out his lack of professionalism. "Meanwhile, I have to come here and waste my time.""Oh forgive me, dear Adam, but if you knew anything about computers, you would have discovered the e-mail I sent some time ago." Pritchard retorted with a venomous smile of triumph."I didn't get any e-mail." The head of security admitted, knowing he was going to regret it."Exactly. I'm sorry, but your lack of knowledge is beyond my control. If you could separate spam from the rest, you would have noticed my message."And he regretted it. The head of cybersecurity won this clash, but the time for revenge will come."If that's all, I'm asking you to get lost."Jensen did not comment on the last words. He didn't react, he didn't punch him in the face. He did not even slam the door. He just left. Adam knew that Frank would be more pissed off than he would be in a verbal skirmish. He returned to his office, and as he does not like to leave unfinished business, he looked through the mail again as Pritchard had suggested, and this time he checked the spam. To his surprise, there was no message there that could be a report. He was perfidiously lied to. He decided, however, that he would leave it as it was and better focus on watching Miss Werner. To complete the formalities, he searched the files of Sarif Industries employees but found only basic information there. He sighed resignedly, hoping for more than a description of her appearance, a record of achievements, and a position. He leaned against the backrest of an office armchair which tilted slightly back and reflexively looked at the place where Laura had previously stood. He silently admitted that he had acted quite cruelly, and this was not his style, but her arrogance was asking for the lesson of humility he gave her.He moved his gaze to the watch on the computer screen and found out that it was lunchtime coming, and his stomach was telling him so too. For a long while, Adam thought about what he wanted to eat today, and when he made up his mind, he logged out of his profile, then got up from his chair, scooping up the cigarettes and a lighter from the desk and went up to his coat hanging on a hanger. There was still a coffee stain on it. He had no time to clean it. Jensen looked at the office again, checking if he did not forget anything. He put the collected things into the coat's pocket, threw it over his forearm, and left. With a skilled move, the head of security entered the code at the electronic lock and waited for the light to start flashing. He walked down the stairs swiftly, dressing his coat on the run.The streets of Detroit greeted him coldly, so he popped up the collar of his coat. Adam looked left and right at the crosswalk and after crossing to the other side he turned left from the main street, agilely avoiding the puddle. After few steps, he rounded a corner and was almost there. Jensen decided not to experiment and choose a place that he knows, and where he is already a regular visitor.***The Jackdaw.Laura finished the soup and drank a cup of rum. At the moment she was in a slightly better mood, and there was already a second mug in front of her. If necessary, she will order a third one, then a fourth. Drinking like a fish wasn’t anything new to her, she did that dozens of times over and over again."Welcome aboard, please take your seat and we'll set sail soon." she heard the same words of greeting.Instinctively she turned her head, and what she saw did not please her at all. The second cup was empty in the blink of an eye. But of course, he had to come here as if it was the only place in the area. Wait, maybe Faridah sent him. Either way, the situation was dire. Escaping from here asap would be the best solution, but Jensen was just heading in her direction and seemed to be on a collision course. It was far too late for evasive maneuvers."Dank Farrik!" she thought, drumming nervously with her fingers on the tabletop. "Stay calm, just stay calm. Inhale, exhale. I am one with the Force. The Force is with me." she recited in her mind. "He will hit the Mass Relay in 3... 2... 1…""Hello again, Miss Werner. What a meeting." The inevitable arrived. She will be eaten alive. "Lunch break?" he asked, trying to start a conversation."Boss gave me a day off, so I’m using this time before he changes his mind." she replied. The rum she had drunk gave her courage, but not enough to reject her fear.“Mr. Captain, as always, reliable. Same as usual?" the waiter asked with a smile, expecting what the answer would be."Yes, and a cup of rum." the head of security replied, taking the cigarettes from his coat pocket."For me, twice." Laura asked, waving an empty mug when the waiter finished taking notes.Adam did not react, although he saw that the girl slowly had enough. Personally, he did not encourage drinking to unconsciousness but also did not like to interfere. He also didn't ask if he could smoke in her company. Laura didn't care today anyway. Under other circumstances, she would probably declare war against him. She looked at him stealthily after a long while. She didn’t even notice when he took off his coat. Adam moved his pointing finger across the datapad screen and inhaled with a cigarette, then shook his head. A waiter placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of Jensen along with the cup of rum, and the other two cups he placed in front of Laura. She drank the first one at once and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She put the mug on the tabletop with a loud tap to draw Jensen's attention. Unfortunately, without a result."I can see that curiosity eats you up." she muttered when she saw how much he was engrossed in reading.Laura assumed that Adam was studying her data right now, so she decided to use it to her advantage."I will disappoint you. There is no mention of the transfer in my file, but I will enlighten you. I previously worked at Milwaukee Junction as head of cybersecurity, but the branch there was suspended so I automatically moved under Pritchard's wings. Here is the whole great mystery. Satisfied?" Laura triumphed, she felt the pride bursting through her. At last, Adam got what he deserved. She finally won.Adam looked at her with a frown before he said anything. "But I'm not reading your file now. Not at all." he replied with disarming frankness and turned the screen towards her."Dank Farrik! Dank Farrik!! Dank Farrik!!!" She thought, seeing the latest news from Picus. Once again, she was humiliated by this idiot. She won't forgive him. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Meanwhile, rum started to do its job, Laura felt that she was losing more and more contact with reality, but that didn't stop her from drinking the last cup."I must admit I appreciate your gesture. It's all clear now, so I won't bother you anymore." Saying this, in a decisive move, he took away her cup before she could empty it.He didn't say anything, but the little gesture affected her so much that she couldn't stay with him any longer."Oh, I lingered here for too long, I should go now. Goodbye Mr. Jensen." she muttered as she stood up. Laura quickly grabbed her backpack and rushed to the bar to pay the bill.Adam was surprised by her behavior, there was clearly something strange in it. Miss Werner looked like she saw a ghost. After a while, his eyes fell on the hoodie hanging on the backrest of the opposite chair. He wanted to call Laura, but she had already left. He was sitting alone with an unburned cigarette and a half-empty cup of rum. A trail of smoke curled lazily through the air. He sighed, putting out the cigarette butt.__________________________________Evie Dormer 'Shadow' (c) :devNifriel:Deus Ex (c) Ion Storm/Eidos Montreal
Nifriel
Add Media
Style