Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
There was supposed to be shock present in Vice's face. Finding out there were was another combat ready robot that was manufactured for the sole purpose of taking down the shadows was really something…but the male just remained impassive. Oh he was pretty surprised alright, inside anyway. Showing any kind of expression that could be translated as negative, specially with someone as shy as Xain, could probably deliver some less than savoury results.
"I see…" Vice began, a contemplative look on his face as he regarded his conversation partner with a rather neutral glance before the light in his eyes began to show a hint of positivity there. "Good to know that you can take care of yourself, Xain. It would be a pity to lose a new friend just like that because I was careless." Nodding to himself and placing the now empty mugs next to him, Vice did remember something about the blonde's kind. "So…which Unit number are you? There are others like you, I'm acquaintances of them, and it's something I've been rather curious about."
Xain was shocked. First, the man didn't seem surprised at all. Second, he was considered a friend already? Third, there were others around like him? That was the biggest surprise to him. He had been told that there might be others, but he had yet to encounter them.
As for his Unit number, he had some mixed feelings about that. He had been told that if he were to accomplish anything during this mission, he would be officially assigned to a unit. He looked at Vice. "I have... No unit." He was still having difficulty talking, but that was to be expected. "As for others... You have met them? Who are they?"
"That's weird. Don't people usually give you numbers upon creation? It's like a name of sorts, or an ID." The biker shook his head. "Ah well, doesn't matter now. It's also good to see you talking man." Carefully pushing himself up and bringing the coffee mugs with him, the young man once again stacked the two together to free one of his hands so that he could clean up the snow accumulating on his back side.
"I know two others within the City, and they've been a big help as of late. I've got nothing against introducing you to them but…wanna get inside first? I don't know about you but it's bloody cold out here."
Xain looked at the man. He hadn't been meant as anything more than as a test subject, so he hadn't been treated the same as others. It was only after he had been classified as a failure did he start being treated normally. He had been referred to as Test-Subject 114 before being cleared for combat. He had been given the name "Xain" by the head scientist.
As for him being cold, Xain just smiled. "I don't normally feel the cold. as for going inside, though..." He considered for a moment before nodding his head. "Sure. Lead on, Vice." He said the man's name as if trying it out. That wasn't intentional, of course, but it happened all the same. He stood up to follow Vice indoors and continue the conversation.
Having finally entered into the warmer area within the premises of the resort, the young man gave a contented sigh of relief as he could feel the hair on the back of his neck finally settle down and that his breath wasn't beginning to fog up his face. Rubbing his hands together to try and get some friction to warm him up, the male then turned to his companion and gave a thoughtful look before anything.
"There's one named Crux, though I don't know much about the guy. Another one is named Pyxis and I'd rather not get on her bad side. That woman packs a punch, literally. They've been around for quite a bit, longer than you have most probably. Though I'm wondering why---if it's your expressed purpose to destroy Shadows…why send you all out at different intervals to the same place? Or is it that you're from a different, er, 'corporation?'"
Xain didn't quite understand what the man was saying. Why send them out at different times? He was simply a soldier, he wasn't told anything. He had assumed that this was a concept that most humans understood, but he realized that perhaps it was different for humans. Perhaps they were given more information besides where they were attacking during times of war?
With a slight shake of his head, Xain answered to the best of his abilities. "I don't know about the others, but I was only recently cleared for combat. The others may have been battle ready before I was." He shrugged, unsure of what else to say.
"Is that so? Did anything happen back at the lab to extend the time you had to be there?"
Vice asked as they finally neared the lobby of the resort. He was sure that even if they weren't exactly residents of the place, nor were they direct customers to the place, that the staff in attendance wouldn't just kick them out. Even if they did, moving to a different place didn't seem to be all that difficult.
"Moving on, you mind telling me just what it is you do…or have done? I understand that you were built for that particular purpose but perchance, is there any other motive you and your kind have in terms of slaying these shadows?"
Xain considered his response carefully. He wasn't sure what he should reveal about his past, as he was still surprised that Vice had managed to get the android to speak. He didn't want too much to go out in the open. As for the second question, the robot was unsure. He was programmed for the sole purpose of destroying shadows, he supposed. It had been an unusual circumstance that he had been used as a test subject, but that was all it was. Nothing more, nothing less.
He looked at the biker before speaking. "As you said before, it is my sole purpose. Other than that... The best reason that I can find would be a human phrase. It is because 'they are there.'" He wondered if the biker had been expecting a similar response, not that any other would have sufficed.
Defensive still, appears to be hesitant in answering and uses it as a facade to change subjects. Little itty bitty notes that Vice kept writing down in his head as the conversation continued in order to better understand just who it was he was talking to. Placing his left ankle on the his right knee and making some kind of square with his legs, the biker then leaned forward with his elbows digging unto his legs.
"I see. Also, I'm sorry if this is starting to look like an interrogation but I've never really had the chance to learn more about what's happening farther outside ever since this happened. The isolation of information's making everyone paranoid." Shaking his head, the young man then leaned back again and placed his back on the backrest of the chair.
"It's also rather odd that for someone of your build, you've yet to find the others."
Xain looked at the biker. He couldn't blame the human for wanting to know more. It started to make Xain feel uncomfortable. He was holding back information, even if it was something that was of no immediate concern.
He shook his head slightly, so as to set his thoughts straight. He needed to answer Vice, but how? What reason would he give? Would it be best to just tell the truth and say that he had only been in town for a few days? When he couldn't find any reasonable issues that would arise, Xain spoke. "I have been here for less than a week. As for the conversation, do not be concerned."
"Is that so? Well, either way then, try to do what you can. If you ever need help, there's a lot of us around the city who has been doing this for quite some time. I'm sure they'll be willing to help you out if you ever dare ask."
Of course, for that to happen, the blonde would need to be the first one to open up and talk to theme rather than the others having to worm their way through whatever defences he's put up. "They, however, aren't miracle workers. They won't be able to help you unless you let them, which means a few sacrifices on the part of both parties."
With that said, the young man hailed down one of the waiters and, through some small dialogue and faulty but believable reasoning, managed to snag himself another mug of coffee because why not? They had it good here and so was their coffee. No reason to not share.
Xain smiled at his new friend. Not only was the man willing to introduce the robot to the others of his kind here, but he was also trying to convince Xain to start speaking more. Xain could tell that Vice was already doing his best to help the ASW out.
The android was getting ready to thank Vice when someone entered the room. Xain detected nothing out of the ordinary until he felt and heard gunshots. He had been narrowly missed, where as the shooter was yelling for money. Xain saw a person with a bag filling money, and Xain went and grabbed for it. The person, horrified by the recent turn of events, gladly handed it over.
Xain approached the shooter while holding the bag in one hand. The shooter grabbed at the bag and quickly went through it before looking back up. "You think this is enough, kid?" Xain simply smiled, which aggravated the criminal. "You think this is funny or something? I'll show you!" the crook yelled, leveling the gun in the robot's face. Xain's grin grew larger before anything happened.
Xain first, batted the gun up, so as to not have anyone get shot. It was a sub-machine gun, he noticed. When the man tried to level it again, Xain kneed him in the gut. The man doubled over in pain before Xain kicked him. Surprised and in pain, the robber fell backwards to the ground, where Xain jumped on top of him. The android then proceeded to repeatedly strike at the man's face. When the robot finally got up, the criminal was a bloody mess.
Xain walked back over to Vice. "He nearly shot me. He deserved it." The robot then started to smile. "At least you know that I can handle myself.'
The moment his ears picked up on the different sounds being produced within a resort, Vice was already readying the half full mug in his hands to turn into a weapon of mass destruction. His face was already going through the route of where to hide, wait, and strike for the maximum efficiency when the freak had levelled a gun towards everyone in the room. The biker, however, was not disappointed to see Xain try and be the hero. It didn't even take long for the altercation to be stopped, although the amount of excitement and fear that ran along the place was still high.
While the new comer was still doing the whole punching thing, Vice had already gone about to securing something that could restrain the guy. Sure he was getting beaten up to a bloody mess, but it didn't mean squat if the guy could still move. Moving past Xain, even as he tried to strike conversation with the biker, Vice proceeded to double check on the downed man. Eyes scanning for movement, and at the slightest twitch the biker kicked the male over on the side hard enough while flipping him to a prone position. Kneeling on the small of the criminal's back, Vice was just about to tie up the guy's wrists with a belt when the cops finally reached the scene. Some of them were dealing with crowd control while the others were already heading in to detain the perpetrator. Tying the guy's hands to make sure nothing stupid happened, Vice quickly moved back from the downed male and turned back. Increasing the pace of his walking into something more brisk, the biker then snatched the blonde by the arm and began forcibly dragging the android out of there.
"Witnesses, questions, best we get out of here before they remember our faces."
Xain watched as the police took over the scene and started to question people. Before anything interesting could happen, though, he was being led away by Vice. He complied until they were far enough away from the scene of the crime that they would be able to speak freely. Yet Xain didn't speak. He simply gave the biker a confused look. After all, they had done nothing wrong.
It took the robot a moment to realize that it would be best to avoid questioning of any kind. Otherwise, their identities- like how Xain is actually an android- would be revealed. Xain understood.
Vice began when they were sufficiently away from the scene of the crime. They were still in the resort, though the distance of two entire buildings should be enough as an excuse to say that there was no connection between them. It wasn't full proof though, and the biker had most likely just thrown it in the air and hoped that luck would cover their asses for the time being.
"Still, be more careful next time. You're probably sturdier than people like me, a bullet wouldn't be phasing you too much, but it doesn't mean that you'll be getting out of that unharmed. Try to do things a lot less flashy next time, and to do it more efficiently. That's your first lesson in combat, both outside and inside the Shadow Lands. If, however, you wanna pick up on a couple more moves to add to your repertoire when apprehending people inside the city, go this place then."
It was with deft precision that Vice tossed a laminated card to the blonde. It was probably a bad idea giving the guy a pass to the Fight Club but Vice was pretty sure that he could handle that for when the time came. "Try not to stand out too much when there's too many witnesses, alright"?