She casually strolled towards the entry gate. They always took forever, security checks and all. She wasn't gonna gnaw their faces off, what were the hold-ups even about?

"Well, if it isn't our most beloved scavenger! Here to see the oddity?" the door lady asked, jaw clenched ever so slightly. They hated her. She didn't mind. She finished her cigarette in peace.

"Nah." She tossed it on the floor in front of the gate. "You gonna open that?"

The woman hesitated just an instant too long. "Sure!" she hissed, and disappeared from the teller-like window. She contemplated lighting another cigarette while waiting, but they would open the door just when she'd get started. And chewing gum just wasn't the same. After looking around for any kind of distraction, she bore out until the grind of metal as the doors were unlocked and swung open just enough for a person to come through. And through came a wide, three-piece-suited gentleman with a way too sharp haircut and polished shoes, totally out of place in the apocalypse.

"Belinda! So you've graced us with your presence again. To what do we owe the honor?"

"You hate my guts and we both know it, Cage. I ain't waitin' around in this kind of shit weather, let me in already."

"If I remember correctly, last time we did that, you ended up punching out teeth from three of my men."

"Oh come on, they were asking for it!" she countered, trying - and failing - to subtly button up her jacket. The weather was getting bad, and she was not looking forward to sleeping in her vehicle again.

"What they were asking for was to see your goods. Need I remind you that you are a scavenger, and that is in fact a perfectly appropriate question to ask."

"I misunderstood, okay? Maybe they should've been clearer!"

"You then proceeded to hit on my bodyguard, commenting about her uniform and how you'd like to-"

"Cage, pal, we've both fucked up before. Now if you're willing to let this rest, I won't give a damn about your crap either, and we can get on with business, how's that sound?"

Her 'pal' exhaled through his nostrils in resignation. He doubted she was physically capable of apologizing, or feeling sorry to begin with.

"Why are you even here, Berry? It's way outside your usual route."

"Well for starters," she pointed up. "Don't wanna be out in this kinda shit weather."

He thought for a moment. "I doubt the raiders left anything of interest for you."

"Oi, fuck you." She habitually grabbed for her cigarettes before she caught herself. "I've got goods, aight, I can pay for a stay. Maybe even fix up the old stallion-"

"No that's not it. It's personal, isn't it?" His eyes were fixated to her face, cold and hard, tracking every minute spasm of displeasure. "And it's not just a squabble, either. They've hurt you. Taken something important from you?"

"Cage, if you don't drop this, I'll punch you."

"You are notorious for your bad behavior, Belinda. Doesn't take much to figure out why. I want to know what your deal is before I let you in so you can be a fuckup even more."

". . . I can leave the car outside if you're worried about the garage."

"That is not what I am worried about." He made no excessive movements, fully blocking the door with his wide frame. Berry hissed through gritted teeth, eyes darting around. She didn't know how the storm was going to develop, and she couldn't risk to stay outside either.

"I'm looking for someone. Pre-Cataclysm. I think some of them know more, but they won't talk to me about it." She spit. "There. Happy?"

"The Hell Raiders? What kind of person are you even looking for, a drug baron? Street gang?"

"None of your fucking business, Cage. You're not that important."

He shrugged. "Good enough for me. I'll hit up the posse and see about your car. Wipe your shoes, no weapons, no stealing, no smoking, et cetera - you know the rules, even if you don't care for them." He went back in, closing the door before she could enter. For a moment, she considered whether he was leaving her outside, after all, but decided to trust him - Cage didn't seem like the kind of person to prank people like that. Instead, she went back to her vehicle and started to pack the necessities in a backpack - money, drugs, pocket knife, a change of clothes, gun - you weren't carrying a gun if they didn't find it. Anything else of interest she locked away - it still wasn't too safe to leave stuff there, but it was better than nothing. Tacoma took theft seriously.

She was locking the trunks at the back when the first drops started to fall, numbing her skin. Toxic rain - a classic in the current hellscape. It's when the dead came to life. The hangar gate began to rise with a loud rattle, the local mechanic - his name was something with a `K' - operating the board with Cage behind him, waving for her to enter. Without wasting much more time, she climbed over to the control cockpit, steering her baby inside and away from the nasty rain. The occasional bits of flesh that still hung on her chassis were starting to wiggle around eagerly. Parked neatly away in one corner - and still taking up a good chunk of the already massive hangar -, she turned the engine off and got out, locking her darling behind her.

"It's almost disheartening, seeing such a good mechanic go to waste. You could stay here and help out, you know. The pay is good." Cage had walked up, offering her a plastic ID card that she snatched and headed for the inner gate.

"No thanks, I'd rather dredge the crud outside and beat up z's than look at your suit." She awkwardly glanced at the closing hangar door, the murky weather outside. "Not right now, though. Now I want a roof that's thicker than a leaky tin sheet."

"Then I'm afraid you'll have to endure the suit. No fighting, no stealing, everyone does public service, got it?"

"I know the rules, Cage, I'm not stupid."

"No, but you are stubborn." He moved in front of her, blocking her way in. "I need you to acknowledge that."

She took a deep sigh and raised one hand, placing the other on her heart. "I hereby solemnly pledge not to make too much fun of your suit, or try to fuck your bodyguard."

It was a sign of his iron will that Cage didn't roll his eyes. "The other part."

"Fine, I'll fix up your shitty plumbing, or whatever you've got for me around here."

"And?"

She crossed her arms, turning to the side and cursing under her breath. "And-I-won't-start-fights-or-punch-anyone's-teeth-out-unless-reasonably-provoked," she recited like a kindergartener getting scolded at recess.

"I will personally escort you out if you do, is that clear?"

"Yes, daddy, can I go now?"

He finally moved aside, letting her storm off into the establishment proper, missing his bodyguard waiting just beside the door. Cage followed soon after, shaking his head and sighing heavily.

"That voice is just begging to be punched."

"Oh trust me, you're not alone. But, we are the civilized ones in this barren land, and it is our duty to treat people with respect, even . . . people like her."

"Eh, there's worse. I might've even picked her up on that offer." She flung the pebble she had been fidgeting with, decapitating a rat further down the corridor. "Won't mind her calling me 'daddy' . . ."

"Rae, please, it's exhausting enough dealing with one of her." He looked back into the hangar, looking out for the mechanic who was closing up vents and airducts to prevent water dripping in. "Boss send any further instructions?"

"'Standby and report'. Don't think he's had time to get around to the news yet."

"Well," Cage leaned back against the concrete wall, listening to the silent drone of the rain outside, welcome as it was deadly, forcing them to close themselves up in these walls of steel and stone. "We'll be here a while."