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"You're like a -loid informant. . . something tells me this is going to cost me" He spoke calm, stirn, "But shoot anyway. I'm listening."

~+~

After they had gotten to the Junkyard, getting to their location was much easier since the tribes had long since been disband, but what they saw was much more surprising as they reached the city. Most of it was in shambles, nothing left but the remains of what use to be a rather large city. Perhaps the old home of the Vocaloids. . .

But the place the informant had pointed out to them was much more. . . morbid.


The streets were in shambles, the buildings falling apart even as they strolled through the broken down city. Every once in a while, they would see the face of people, humans and children, cowering in fear as they watched them walk into the rubble that was once a small area of a much bigger city. As the wind picked up, a cloud of dust sprayed across the area, another random object stuck into the ground with such a force that could not be explained in natural ways. It was almost as if the sky had spit it from its heavens, intention of impaling apparent as it forcefully stuck into the ground, unyielding of the vision of a Militaryloid, though its model was old. It crackled and shut down, its cores crushed in the impact, it was obvious that someone was out to get this –loid, but the question was who or what. As they looked around themselves, they would note objects like signs, guard rails and other usually unyielding construction sticking out of the ground and other buildings. What they had walked into seemed to be more than just a small part of a larger city, but also the den of a beast.

The sounds of different –loids echoed through the gray skies, but none were ever in the same place. Another crash of a broken down building as it groaned a little ways off, finally collapsing to the unforgiving streets and blowing another thick cloud of gray particles through the alleyways and roads before slowly dispersing into the ground, settling like a thick ash from a cigarette as it was smoked. The people gazed upon the –loids, noting their cleaner attire, and vivid eyes, save for the grey eyed one that seemed as if something was missing from him. They cautiously re-entered the streets, some looking tired, half starved, or sick, but they continued to move through their day as if nothing had just come flying from the sky, or the horrid site of another fallen building. It was like they were all void of life, like nothing in their world seemed to bother them much anymore.

The kids returned to playing and the adults began to place out their stores once more with what little items they had, even so, it was the only thing giving them purpose from the seems of it. A small group of -loids stood together nearby, all Vocaloids, but it was obvious that they had been there for quite some time as their clothing was faded, eyes empty, but still they were able to function. Even so, they looked as if they had merely been patched together by some mechanics stuck in this place, different colored parts made up their bodies, and the expressions that they showed looked very limited.

"Fine, how much you askin' for?" The cord to his headphones twitched slightly on their own, his body was still locked in place, still not moving.

~+~

"You won't find a core over in this area." A quiet voice came from the group of Vocaloids now watching the three of them.

"You have to speak with Oba-san to go for cores." The odd fingered loid spoke up next holding up what was suppose to be a peace sign.

"Oba-san has all of the cores around here." The other quietly lifted his sling to situate his arm, it sparking noisily as he did so.

"Not to mention the fact that you have to go through Shizuo-san to get to them anyway."

"I can take you. I have to get my arm reattached by Oba-san anyway," The dark haired -loid gave a nod, showing a small smile before beginning to walk.

"Don't get caught by Shizuo-san, okay Birk?"

"I know, Orz"

~+~

"Tch, you'll gouge my pockets like Izaya-sama" He dug out his wallet and checked the money quietly, "Alright, I have 200,000 here. Not much I'm sure, but to get any info on the E-series is worth it."

"New if you don't mind. . . and don't call me pinkie."

~+~

As they reached an old run down building, a brunette was entering, carrying two Militaryloid bodies on either of his shoulders. His eyes were the color of warm honey, but still somewhat dead, empty and tired, hidden under his sunglasses.

"That is Shizuo-san. He looks a little more tired today than usual."

~+~

It had been a while since he'd breathed fresh air, let alone drink an actual glass of fresh water. . . It was as if his life had no explanation anymore as he shook his pack before sighing. It was his last one. "Damnit, last one. Now what the hell do I do?" he looked when he heard the sparking though. It was amazing how far away he was when he looked in their direction, situating the shut down bodies on his shoulders again before pushing open the door to the small hut with his shoulder, "Get in here, Birk! How many times have I told you about that arm of yours!?"

A sudden jerk in Delic's headphone cord was apparent as he stared at the X-series as Ms. Strawberry came from his mouth. He did however take in all of the information, knowing full well that the other mechanics would need to know this important information...however, he also frowned at the "Like you" comment that was brought up. Delic was not like other -loids in this town, he just wanted a town like the one he once lived in...he was a clone of his elder, Shizuo Heiwajima, the strong man of their old city. He closed his eyes and folded his arms, "I see, so this is what you can get for 200,000? I can deal with it. . . I have it stored now, so I can give it to Izaya-sama once I catch up with him."

~+~

Birk responded with a mute "yes" before continuing ahead, "He might show some mercy today. . . but he might still fight you for the right. They say that there are many unbroken Militaryloids in the grounds, so he doesn't let anyone go there without him. He likes the thrill of the fight, not to mention the fact that he might be on a nicotine withdraw when you go."

Delic replied with another twitch of his headphone cord before sighing and looking at his watch, "I'll just have to get more money next time."

~+~

The two men standing in the front of the store stopped as the tired brunette looked over carefully at the three Militaryloids with a small frown, "Oba-san takes care of the basic cores. I'm the one who keeps an eye on the Military s**t, What do you want?"

"Tch, yeah, yeah" Swiftly he pulled out the money and handed it to him.

~+~

Shizuo frowned, the cigarette in his mouth twisting slightly as he rolled it, "The E-series, huh? They've been stalkin' around here for some time, but it seems like all of them are working for my damn cores to begin with." He looked directly at Kai, as if he already knew who the core was for, almost instantly noting his condition. "You missing one?" he walked over, hovering at 6'1, "Yeah, you are. Damnit. . . I'll say this now, I usually am not fond of military types running around this worn down city, Birk knows this. . . but the consideration of me giving up one of my cores. . . you realize we're going to have to make some kind of agreement." He looked back, "The three of you look clean, like you've been able to wash up and s**t. . . the people here need a safe place, and I think you all know one. . ."

Shizuo felt his gut wrench when he heard Delic's name, "Did you just say Delic. . . ? Hah. . . I haven't heard that name for a while now," He ran a hand through his mess of brown locks before setting his eyes on the orange haired militaryloid for the second time, "Personality Profile? That moron takes more attention to hit on the ladies and the men than to do much of anything else, trust me, I should know. He's tried to break things off between Tsugaru and Psyche for as long as I can remember. He never learns if you ask me." He huffed another cloud of silver smoke into the air before Oba-san opened his mouth, another cloud of silver passing his own lips.

"So you're sayin' that the three of you know his family, good to know, good to know." He nodded a few times before he folded his arms, "If that's the case, Shizuo, take them to the heap. They're going to need those cores and I want you to personally take them. Psyche and Tsuki need the break from all the defense and fighting, besides. . . It might be good for you as well, blonde."

"Do you have to call me that when we're doing s**t like this?" He pondered out loud as he glared at Oba-san before turning his attention to the three -loids once more, "I can't promise you much more than what I've got. I've come into contact with quite a few E-series in this town. Seems like they don't like my kind. Anyway, come with me. . . I gotta go that way anyway."

It was apparent that when he turned around again he was having a momentary time adjusting his surroundings before walking off toward the door. Something else was wrong with him from the looks of it, and it wasn't something small, like a limp. It was like he had no signs of sight in his right side as he had to turn his head fully to make the proper adjustment to start his way toward the military heap.

~+~

Before he walked off, he looked into the direction that the X-series was looking . . . what the hell was he waiting for in the middle of the park? He pondered this as he continued to stare. . . .