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Aspax, Basin: Desolate Ash, Arclop Palace, Time: 3:00 PM
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After 30 minutes of driving on the motorcycle, they arrived on top of the sandy ash hill. From there, they could see The Purified base in the distance.
"The Arclop Palace" is an abandoned palace in the wasteland of Basin, now controlled by the wasteland criminals known as "The Purified."
Its exterior, once grand, is now dilapidated and fortified with 17 towers. Inside, opulent rooms have become a maze of tunnels, prison cells, and command centers.
The courtyard serves as a marketplace and training ground. The palace symbolizes anarchy, where past luxury meets a grim present, and survival depends on loyalty in a lawless wasteland.
"We're here!" Layla announced excitedly. She revved the engine, about to charge straight into the base when the motorcycle suddenly died. "Aw dang, I was gonna drive right in! I guess we'll have to take the boring route now."
The trio abandoned the bike and lay atop the hill conspiring. "I know where they stash wine cargo, but they might be onto my usual tricks," Layla explained.
Cauli scratched his head pensively. "We need to grab it without alerting them. A direct fight's too risky." Don nodded in agreement.
Layla's eyes glinted mischievously. "I have an idea! We cause a distraction drawing their attention while someone sneaks in and grabs the cargo. But it needs to grab their focus..."
Cauli raised an eyebrow. "What sort of distraction?"
"I saw some bikes outside. We "accidentally" set one ablaze and let it roll right into their base! That'd grab their attention!" Layla proposed excitedly.
Don chuckled appreciatively. "Bold plan - I like it! But who'll sneak in during the chaos?"
Layla appraised both men before deciding "Cauli, with your quickness I think you're our best bet. Don and I will handle the distraction."
Cauli finally agreed, steeling his nerves. Their daring heist was in motion.
Cauli walked to the left and took cover in the southern hill while examining a medium-sized rock with a map layout.
On the rock, he saw a little character representing Don with a thumbs-up in a speech bubble that read, "You can do it!"
Cauli chuckled at the encouraging message before cautiously poking his head out to get confirmation from Don and Layla.
They nodded from a distance, and Cauli, still perplexed, decided to proceed with their plan.
Meanwhile, behind some rocks, a concerned Don watched as Layla tried igniting a small fire. "Are you sure this won't unintentionally hurt someone?"
Layla shrugged dismissively. "Hey, I ain't no fortune teller! Let's just go viking on these fools."
Don carefully lit a dead bush ablaze then placed it onto a motorcycle seat, setting the stage for their fiery diversion.
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Aspax, Basin: Desolate Ash: Arclop Palace, Entrance, Time: 3:10 PM
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While Don, Layla, and Cauli were busy devising their plan, a lone Purified member named Bobby sat on a crate, looking despondent as he stared at his lunch.
Suddenly, a fellow member, Jim, with an eccentric appearance including a mohawk and goggles, approached him.
"Hey, Bobby! What are you doing here all alone?" Jim asked.
Bobby looked up, his expression melancholic. "Jim, I don't think this job is right for me anymore..."
Jim sat down beside Bobby as they ate their cooked desert cactus lunch. "Come on, Bobby, you've been doing great out there on the battlefield," Jim reassured him.
Bobby shook his head, a hint of sadness in his voice. "Killing people isn't fun for me anymore, man. I wish to settle down, have a family, and get a normal job."
Jim placed a comforting hand on Bobby's shoulder. "Bobby, I understand. I only got us into this for the money to secure our future. I'll go wherever you want, and we'll ensure both of us find success."
Bobby was on the verge of tears when Jim embraced him. "Thank you, Jim. I needed to hear that."
However, their conversation was interrupted by a peculiar sight: a motorcycle, mysteriously engulfed in flames, rolled down the hill and crashed into nearby cargo.
Jim and Bobby watched in bewilderment as the strange scene unfolded.
"That was strange," Jim commented, turning back to face Bobby. However, he suddenly detected an unusual odor, resembling gunpowder.
Before they could react, an explosion rocked the area, leaving Bobby charred and gasping for breath.
"BOBBY! OH MY GOD! WHY IS THIS WORLD SO CRUEL!" Jim cried as he cradled Bobby's charred body, tears streaming down his face.
Don and Layla, observing from the hill, winced at the unfolding disaster.
"Wow, I feel really bad for that," Layla murmured, shaking her head in sympathy.
Don nodded in agreement. Their sympathy was cut short, though, when they heard another blood-curdling scream from Jim.
"OH GOD! MY VITAL ORGANS! BOBBY! WHO COULD HAVE DONE THIS TO US?!" Jim's anguished cry echoed across the desolate landscape, prompting Don and Layla to retreat slowly in awkward discomfort.
"Jeez, that was...unexpected..." Don stated, Layla nodded in agreement. They seem to be having a good bromance as well.
"Ay, that's just how life wor- HGGH!" Layla covered her mouth, she accidentally step on a cactus and it pricked her leg, it hurt very fucking bad.
"Oh shit, that sucks..." Don whispered, Layla gestured her hand for Don to pull the cactus off her leg. Don nods as he carefully tries to remove it.
Don winced in sympathy seeing the cactus needles embedded in Layla's leg. "Ouch, that looks painful! Here, brace yourself - I'll pull them out as gently as possible."
Layla nodded, biting her lip and grabbing Don's shoulder tightly as he grasped the first spike. "Okay, on three...one, two..." He swiftly pulled before reaching three, eliciting a muffled squeal from Layla.
"Hey! I thought you'd wait til three!" she admonished through gritted teeth.
"Sorry, figured it'd be less unpleasant if you weren't tensed up expecting it," Don apologized. "Just a couple more left..."
Layla squeezed her eyes shut, crushing Don's shoulder harder as he removed the next needle. One final quill remained stuck right in the meat of her calf.
Don met her pained gaze. "Last one, ready?" At her affirming yet apprehensive nod, he swiftly plucked the barb free.
"Motherfucker!" Layla cursed loudly, before breathing a sigh of relief. "But ah, much better, thank you, metalhead" She smiled gratefully at Don, who grinned supportively.
"What're friends for? Let me help you over to that rock so you can rest that leg before we-"
Don suddenly stopped for a second as he was trying to sit down, his butt was on the cactus without realizing it.
Layla was shaking her head to stop him from doing the thing he must do: Screaming.
"FUCCCCCCCC-"
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