Jimmie carries Ashley our of the factory looks out to the road to see the sun glaring down on them, seems to be about noon so it is safer to travel. Jimmie begins to walk back on the dirt path then heading North to Pristine. The trip is very uneventful other than Ashley squirming around in his arms, about a mile out from the city Ashley wakes up in Jimmie's arms and realizes that he picked her up and carried her out. Her wounds healing and fairly close to the city, Jimmie notices that Ashley had woken up and stops along the road and sets her down to let her catch up in her head.
"What the hell happened Jimmie?" Ashley asks.
"We got the chip you needed," he responds.
The two share a moment of silence before Jimmie goes into his pack, grabbing water and offering it to Ashley, she accepts the water and begins drinking it, then handing over her rifle.
"So you don't remember what happened and how we got the chip?" Jimmie asks her.
"No, I think I had too much adrenaline in me I forgot, or I lost a ton of blood which could make me forget... I don't really know."
"Well, you were getting heated from another girl... it was interesting and you blushed when I confronted you," he informs her.
"Wha-what? What are you saying?" She asks confusingly before slowly blushing under pressure.
"Haha, the psycho was right! That's crazy!" Jimmie proclaims.
"Jimmie, what the hell?! What are you talking about?" She questions him.
"Oh, nothing... You are in love, aren't you?" He laughs.
Ashley's face turns bright red and turns away from him to hide it. "Why-how the fuck did you know?" She pouts.
"Well, I had signs of it but brushed them off till so lady pointed it out to me."
"Did I say anything stupid?" She asks softly.
Jimmie pauses and remembers her embracing hug that was very long, "no, you did nothing stupid; you did everything great getting that chip."
She turns around and looks at Jimmie, then stands up and limps over to Jimmie and glares at him," we aren't talking about this anymore." She grudgingly tells him.
In agreement, Jimmie guides Ashley down the road toward Pristine and sees the large iron gate and the two guards outdoors guarding the entrance. Once passing them, the guards welcome them back and the two enter the large city. Pushing their way through the large crowds and slowly making their way back to the market district to the Eastern side of Pristine, then cut through small alleyways to slip by the crowds. Ashley holds onto Jimmie's jacket but almost loses him among the crowd, so she reaches down and grabs a hold of his hand and follows him through each alleyway. Once they reach back at Coller's shop, they enter to see Coller sleeping in his chair. Jimmie walks over to the table and slams down onto it, waking Coller up."
"Ah yes, yes. How may I help?" Coller reacts in surprise. Then realizing it was only Jimmie and Ashley, "oh, come on, just a nudge would do next time, need not make my heart explode." He says under his breath.
Smirking, Jimmie presents Ashley which then Ashley steps up to the table and addresses Coller.
"Hey, we're back, we got the chip you wanted," she says to Coller, placing the chip down on the table.
Coller picks it up and inspects it, "ah good very good, I could put this in a service bot to clean the store while I sleep. Thank you girl; here are the 100 banknotes as promised."
"Uh sir, you promised fif-"
"Shut up and take the money, the man forgot he was gonna pay us less." Jimmie butts in.
"Good, you keep the 100 dollars, let's find work with one of the factions in town," Jimmie adds.
"Here's your cut Jimmie, please take it," Ashley offers.
"No, I would only use it for ammo. You could use it for something else." He refuses.
Ashley puts her offer down and sighs, pockets the money and continues to follow Jimmie. After exiting the store, Jimmie looks around for the headquarters of one of the factions. Swinging around the store and going to the center of the market stalls he sees a taller building among the rest and begins moving toward it, once getting closer he sees uniformed guards just outside different from the guards and approaches the building.
"Halt! State your business wanderer," one guard confronts Jimmie.
"No trouble, looking for work guys," Jimmie replies.
"Alright, go on through. Boss is on the second floor," the guard guides him.
Jimmie walks up the porch and enters the building with Ashley behind him, he opens the door and enters and waits for Ashley to enter and closes it behind them. They are greeted by two servants that approach them, one male and the other female carrying plates of wine and champagne. The interior of the building is clean and professional, it's organized with law and order as the outdoors is lawless and dirty, these two did not fit in.
"Afternoon madam and sire," the male servant bows offering a drink.
"Oh don't mind if I do," Jimmie takes a glass of champagne.
"Brisket ma'am?" The female service addresses Ashley.
"Uh okay. I'll take one," accepting the offer, Ashley gracefully takes one brisket.
"Boss will be happy to see you just up those stairs, his office will be open to you." The male servant points to the stairs just behind him.
Jimmie nods the servant and begins heading up the stairs and sees the door just across the stairs and goes through the doorway to see a polished man in a suit and body armor under the suit jacket and a revolver on his hip, cigar in his mouth and a slash scar across his left eye, he stands tall over his desk talking to a uniformed guard like the one posted just outside but the guard's helmet is off and on the desk with a map of the city on the desk.
"Tell me, Aaron, tell me what those bastards stole from us?!" The suited man yells.
"Sir, they cut off a supply shipment that was supposed to deliver here yesterday, it was a weapons shipment for the recruits," Aaron responds.
"Who was it, commander?" The man questions.
"It was the Legion Union, sir,"
"Goddamn it! Alright, dismissed soldier."
Aaron salutes his boss and turns around to face Jimmie and Ashley and marches out of the room. The man turns out to the window and stares out to the large crowds in the market, the man turns his head to see Jimmie and Ashley. He turns around and sits in his chair and motions to the two chairs in front of his desk.
"Have a seat you two."
Jimmie and Ashley approach and sit down, and the man offers his hand to be shaken. Jimmie reaches over and shakes his hand and then adjusts to shake Ashley's hand, she reaches over to shake his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you both, as you could probably tell I got a problem, and you two I assume are mercenaries looking for work, that's why you showed up. Right?" He greets them.
"Yeah, we are mercenaries. What are you offering?" Jimmie asks.
"Skipping the formalities, I am Joshua Malstorm, leader of the Desolate Order, I have a job opportunity if you wish to take it," he informs them.
"Let us hear it, and we'll decide on taking it out not," Jimmie replies to Joshua.
"Alright, I see... you like to weigh your options before jumping head-on, I respect that, most mercenaries rarely stay cautious like that," Aaron applauds Jimmie.
"Anyway the mission I have for you differs from the problem I have that will be solved by my para-militia, the mission I have will require you to travel to the city of Saldinna East of Pristine, we have a trade deal with the Red Sun Gang," he tells them.
"Their rival is known as the Black Ash Gang and has made a deal with Legion Union to cut off our supply shipments, I would have you retrieve my last shipment but I would rather have you chop the head off first," Joshua adds.
"Alright... sounds reasonable, how much would we get paid for this job?" Jimmie asks.
"Mercenaries will always stay as mercenaries, 200 banknotes... each, this offer only stands for you two, and must be done by only... you two," Joshua tells them.
Jimmie looks over to Ashley to see what her thoughts on the matter are. She looks back at him, "you helped me with my mission, I'll help you with yours as promised," she tells Jimmie.
"Alright, we are in," Jimmie takes the job.
"Wonderful, Saldinna is quite a distance away so I suggest purchasing a buggy or a bike, I'm glad we can come to an agreement, accept these badge cards so when you are stopped by one of my patrols they'll leave you alone. It also signifies our friendship," Joshua speaks to the two players. Shaking their hands once more.
Jimmie gets up and walks out of the room and starts heading back downstairs to the front door.
"We hope you enjoyed your stay madam and sire," the servants bow to them.
The two walk out of the building and head for the market's gate since they are on the Eastern side of Pristine. Once pushed through the crowds to the large iron gates, they exit the city to see an automotive store just to the right of the gate and walk over to be addressed by a man.
"How can I help ya?!" The man questions.
"Hello sir, we are looking to buy a buggy or a bike," Ashley tells him.
"Ahhhh, well you came to the right place, Gaso-rides! I'm Davis, which one are you looking for?" Davis asks.
"A buggy or a bike."
"Our buggies cost about 200 banknotes and our bikes are 100 banknotes." He informs them.
"Here 100 banknotes don't have enough for the buggy," Ashley hands over the money.
"Alright just head into the garage; my employee Kyle will have it ready for you," Davis tells them.
Ashley and Jimmie head over to the garage to see Kyle and their bike in the center. The bike looks rusted but I'm healthy condition with a black paint job and red trim along the sides.
"She's ready," Kyle says slapping the back of the bike.
Jimmie hops on and inserts the key in the keyhole and revs up the bike, Ashley mounts up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist. They drive off toward Saldinna to the East.