10-29-2014, 10:37 AM
There was a cot in the basement but she opted for the couch. It was much more comfortable. Between the cushions, the blanket and the coolness she slept better than she had in a while. She very nearly slept completely, what with being in a safehouse and all. Nearly. She never fully went to sleep. Years of keeping watch when alone ingrained habits into you- habits that meant your life. But she could at least relax here more than usual. She liked her truck just fine- and camping too. But every once in a while, it was nice to treat yourself.
She got up at around 5 and took advantage of the shower and then put on some clean clothes- the same pair of jeans, her boots, and a tight t-shirt. She was going to be fighting today and they needed to be simple and keep out of the way. After a moment, she pulled out her body armor. It was a bit thicker than her shirt and wouldn't keep her from getting bruised. But sharp objects- knives, claws, even teeth- would not break the surface without a lot of force. It would only slightly restrict her mobility, but she'd used it often enough over the years that she knew how to fight with it. And the trade off was worth it. She wasn't going to put it on now, of course. But just before they went in, she'd put it on under her shirt.
That done, she made her way out the back exit. It let her out a block over in an alley just behind a couple dumpsters. Once the false wall had moved back into the place, she could only barely see where it was supposed to be. If she hadn't known, she would have missed it. This section of town and the wall was older- much older than Ricky. Very likely this had been a safehouse for a lot of years. It said something about him that he was entrusted with it. She felt cautiously optimistic about working with him. Course it all came down to how he did out in the field. He could be all brag. But she had a sense about people and he seemed to have good sense about it- as long as he was interested. He hadn't enjoyed the long planning session. Truth was she didn't either but that was the life. Only fools went out without at least a plan or two. When they meant your life, you sucked it up and did it.
But when you were young, you were invincible. She remembered that. Had been like that. Plans, shmans. She was badass Jacinda. And she had survived, it was true, sometimes a bit worse for wear. Nature had been selecting yet again. And it was Jacinda that was selected for yet again. The adrenaline frenzy heightened her senses, the torrent of emotion gave her the courage and strength to do things she might not. But coupling that with experience made a real difference. Skippy would learn, if he survived long enough, just as she had. In the meantime, she was in charge. As always.
She walked to a street vendor and bought a few tacos al carbon and ate them right there, the grease and lime juice getting on her face and hands. She was glad for the napkins. As she stood there chewing, she noticed a druggeria and watched it for a bit. It was a rundown ramshackle place with a faded pink and blue sign. Aside from poorer locals, she saw one or two well dressed men go in and then out. Very likely they would have what she wanted. An idea that came to her as she was drifting off. Her mind had continued to process the information and make predictions.
When she was done and wiped her hands and face and thrown everything away, she went into the small store. And it was small, with narrow cramped short aisles that were made worse by the fact that there were people crowded around buying supplies. That was normal, given the chaos the country was in. Curfews were not enforced by the government or the cartels of course, but only fools went out at night. So you had to stock up when you could. She smiled. Some might call her foolish- those who didn't know.
She went to the pharmacist and after a long wait, finally got to speak to him. His frown at her request- this was a Catholic country still, after all- was dire. But he was in the wrong business to be picky. She'd seen the back doors where the well dressed men had clearly gone. And she wasn't local so he could ease his conscience. After a 10 minutes he gave her a bag and seemed glad to see her go. She smiled and went back outside after paying.
She wondered if there was anything else she was forgetting. She couldn't think of anything so he made her way back to the bar- front entrance this time. Her truck was in a garage attached to the bar to prevent things from walking off. She went in using the code Ricky had given her and unloaded her heavy bladed knife. She really didn't need anything else. Ricky had all the equipment including their ride. She entered the bar's kitchen entrance and then went out front. It was empty so she went back down to the basement and sat down. They'd talked about nighttime for the attack but in the end, decided on afternoon. After their siesta, she thought wryly about the rougs. Very likely they would feed and feel more lethargic. A fight was never good on a very full stomach. Eat enough to get you through but not make you tired or sick. That was key. She would have an energy bar and some nuts a little before they left. And hydration of course.
She settled in to wait, still letting her mind wander aimlessly.
She got up at around 5 and took advantage of the shower and then put on some clean clothes- the same pair of jeans, her boots, and a tight t-shirt. She was going to be fighting today and they needed to be simple and keep out of the way. After a moment, she pulled out her body armor. It was a bit thicker than her shirt and wouldn't keep her from getting bruised. But sharp objects- knives, claws, even teeth- would not break the surface without a lot of force. It would only slightly restrict her mobility, but she'd used it often enough over the years that she knew how to fight with it. And the trade off was worth it. She wasn't going to put it on now, of course. But just before they went in, she'd put it on under her shirt.
That done, she made her way out the back exit. It let her out a block over in an alley just behind a couple dumpsters. Once the false wall had moved back into the place, she could only barely see where it was supposed to be. If she hadn't known, she would have missed it. This section of town and the wall was older- much older than Ricky. Very likely this had been a safehouse for a lot of years. It said something about him that he was entrusted with it. She felt cautiously optimistic about working with him. Course it all came down to how he did out in the field. He could be all brag. But she had a sense about people and he seemed to have good sense about it- as long as he was interested. He hadn't enjoyed the long planning session. Truth was she didn't either but that was the life. Only fools went out without at least a plan or two. When they meant your life, you sucked it up and did it.
But when you were young, you were invincible. She remembered that. Had been like that. Plans, shmans. She was badass Jacinda. And she had survived, it was true, sometimes a bit worse for wear. Nature had been selecting yet again. And it was Jacinda that was selected for yet again. The adrenaline frenzy heightened her senses, the torrent of emotion gave her the courage and strength to do things she might not. But coupling that with experience made a real difference. Skippy would learn, if he survived long enough, just as she had. In the meantime, she was in charge. As always.
She walked to a street vendor and bought a few tacos al carbon and ate them right there, the grease and lime juice getting on her face and hands. She was glad for the napkins. As she stood there chewing, she noticed a druggeria and watched it for a bit. It was a rundown ramshackle place with a faded pink and blue sign. Aside from poorer locals, she saw one or two well dressed men go in and then out. Very likely they would have what she wanted. An idea that came to her as she was drifting off. Her mind had continued to process the information and make predictions.
When she was done and wiped her hands and face and thrown everything away, she went into the small store. And it was small, with narrow cramped short aisles that were made worse by the fact that there were people crowded around buying supplies. That was normal, given the chaos the country was in. Curfews were not enforced by the government or the cartels of course, but only fools went out at night. So you had to stock up when you could. She smiled. Some might call her foolish- those who didn't know.
She went to the pharmacist and after a long wait, finally got to speak to him. His frown at her request- this was a Catholic country still, after all- was dire. But he was in the wrong business to be picky. She'd seen the back doors where the well dressed men had clearly gone. And she wasn't local so he could ease his conscience. After a 10 minutes he gave her a bag and seemed glad to see her go. She smiled and went back outside after paying.
She wondered if there was anything else she was forgetting. She couldn't think of anything so he made her way back to the bar- front entrance this time. Her truck was in a garage attached to the bar to prevent things from walking off. She went in using the code Ricky had given her and unloaded her heavy bladed knife. She really didn't need anything else. Ricky had all the equipment including their ride. She entered the bar's kitchen entrance and then went out front. It was empty so she went back down to the basement and sat down. They'd talked about nighttime for the attack but in the end, decided on afternoon. After their siesta, she thought wryly about the rougs. Very likely they would feed and feel more lethargic. A fight was never good on a very full stomach. Eat enough to get you through but not make you tired or sick. That was key. She would have an energy bar and some nuts a little before they left. And hydration of course.
She settled in to wait, still letting her mind wander aimlessly.