Taija waited impatiently outside the door to Connelly's office. The receptionist had mentioned that there was another person who had volunteered to go to the cache, and she wondered who it could be. Almost certainly someone with a great deal more experience with the city that herself, though that hardly narrowed the field down. It could even be someone from outside the sector. The possibility grew on Taija the longer she considered it. There certainly wasn't enough retrievers in Sector Nine at the moment, and many of those who would be able were exhausted or injured. She'd never really known any of the nomads, those who wandered sector to sector, but they had always seemed like the most cynical people in the world.
Her mind wandered to the cache once more - it was definitely something big, the storm that had conceived it was larger than any had seen. But its size also meant more danger, more guardians and traps for the retrievers - for Taija - to prove themselves against. It was a sobering thought. The caches the city spawned often served as supplements to the sectors, providing goods and luxuries they couldn't produce on their own. Without them humanity would be in a far worse position. But they were never gifts given freely. And that brought Taija back to a problem she had never been able to answer. What was the purpose of those caches? Their goods seemed to serve no purpose to the inhabitants of the city. Shadow Graphers didn't use guns, or painkillers.
The door opened, snapping Taija back to reality in time to see a man exit. The face wasn't one she recognized, he definitely wasn't one of the Sector's retrievers, and she didn't think he was a hunter who'd decided to try going after different prey. Yet, he held himself like one who spent time outside the deadzones for a living, ready for anything. Perhaps more than just working outside the sectors, but living with the city. A nomad, then. "Don't take too long." he quiped. As if Taija needed reminding of how urgent this cache would be, especially considering that Sector Three would certainly have sent retrievers out already. "I'll be out before you know it." she riposted, returning his smile. He was setting a good precident for not being a total cynic.
Once through the door, Taija faced the head of Sector Nine's retrievers. Bertram Connelly. The man was quite renowned, both for his time in Sector Three, as well as his excellent leadership. Today, Taija was meeting him not as a civilian, or a medic to deliver bad new, but as a retriever ready to head out into the city for the good of the Sector. She couldn't help but smile as she entered, though she did keep her excitement contained. She gave him a skeptical look at his attempt to convince her to back out. He had to know she wouldn't accept it, though she couldn't blame him for trying.
As Bertram continued to describe the conditions, offering her advice, and weaponry, Taija grew more serious. She did know what she was getting into. Though, she had hoped that the trip would include another retriever or two. For the most part, his conditions were reasonable. Taija wouldn't leave her companion to die though. It wasn't something she was capable of. At least I hope not. She thought. Living through the deaths of patients was hard enough, and the death of a travelling companion would hit much harder to cope with.
"Of course I accept, did you really have to ask? I had hoped that there would be more than two of us going out there. I can't imagine the city is going to make this easy for us." She grimaced at the idea, though the small party would probably be able to move faster, and slip past any sector three goons they might run into. "Though I guess there's no time to go find any other retrievers. As both you and Nova have pointed out, we don't have time to spare. Now I've gotta get this requisition filled" Taija left the room, then glanced back with a smile. "Relax, what's the worst that could happen?" she said sarcastically before leaving. Probably not her best call, as soon she was considering all the horrible things that could occur out in the city...
---
Despite a small hangup getting the pistols, which were holstered on her right hip and thigh - Taija had never been comfortable drawing with her left hand - she thought she had made pretty good time getting ready. The rendezvous was towards the edge of the sector, and after a quick search she was able to spot Nova leaning against a building. Taija waved and headed over to him. "Taija willow, I mostly work as a medic here in Sector Nine." She offered him a handshake. "I'll be travelling with you for the near future. Nova, right? You're not from the Sector, are you? Also, I don't think there's any more support coming for us, so I'm good to head out as soon as you are."
