A breeze flitted its way through the alley, rank with the smell of rotting garbage and urine, making her skin break out in goosebumps. It did little to stir the fog around her ankles, hiding the surface. Nor did the boots she wore keep her feet warm, but if that was induction through the sole or radiation to the fog, she couldn't say.
"Now," Rho said quietly through the encrypted channel as a graphic appeared in front of her eyes, "We can go in through here, or come down through the ceiling..."
"That's a trap," Niner replied.
"What do you mean it's a trap?" Rho frowned. "What do you see?"
Niner glanced at Rho, but a noise came from the building visible just beyond, just as they heard steps coming rapidly towards the alley.
They both stepped back, taking cover, as someone came into the alley and tripped, splashing face first in the fetid pools and small mammals darting away. What did Rho call them? Rats?
"Drone," warned Niner, glancing up. Instinctively, she reached out with the collar to seize control of the drone....