forum ENCOM OS-12 | OxO | Closed unless you're a fellow Program/User/ISO | Stalkers get a free Light Runner

Started March 25, 2021 by @murphysgirl

tune

Nora nodded appreciatively. "That's much better. Thank you."
She glanced around again. "We should get out of here. I don't feel comfortable."

“It’s no problem.” Cor smiled as he hid all traces of his hack before stepping away. “Yeah. I don't really like it in here either.” he agreed, nodding.

Nora slipped her hand into his and started heading for the exit. "Come on, Bit."
Bit, who had been floating near what looked like a drinks fridge, reluctantly zipped over to join them.

Cor eagerly followed her as he entwined their fingers together once she grabbed his hand. Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Bit’s antics and couldn't help but laugh a little. “Really? Even here you're still trying to get some energy?” he teased.

Nora smiled. "I thought you knew how desperate Bit always is for energy."

“Oh, I know. I just wasn't expecting it to try here.” Cor admitted chuckling.

Bit zipped around Cor's head a few times before floating ahead of them into the hallway. Nora followed, glad to be out of the private viewing room. Soon, this all would be over, and she could leave and go back to Cor's and relax. She was looking forward to it more than she realised.

Cor laughed again and playfully batted at Bit once before it zoomed ahead of them. Knowing that they were leaving this place took a great deal of weight off his mind for now… But he hadn't forgotten that he still wanted to check End of Line’s security footage again. As well as that of the surrounding buildings. He had to find out how Cyrus got in and managed to contaminate all the energy… and if there was a way to undo the effect.

"I think we should be able to leave, now that the programmes are inside the arena," Nora said as they went back down the stairs to the Siren room.

“Yeah. They should be safe now.” he nodded. “Hopefully Achilles and the other medics can figure out a way to help them.” Cor sighed a little.

(Oh by the way, I finally found my Flynn's Arcade tee!)

"I hope so too," Nora said. She stayed very close to Cor as they went back through the Siren room, eyes half-closed as she followed him. The wind was howling outside; it would probably storm soon.

(Yay!! Glad to hear it!)

Cor nodded slightly and gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze as they walked through the Siren room. “We should probably hurry.” he suggested in response to the sound of the oncoming storm.

(It had somehow gotten into where I keep my pyjamas 😆)

"We should," Nora said quietly. She was trying not to look around. Part of her was worrying about how they would get back. She assumed they would use the trucks, but they were slow, and she wanted to get to Cor's as soon as she could. She wanted to relax, to forget about all of this for a moment.

(Oops!!! 😆)

Cor rubbed his thumb across her knuckles as they approached the same door they used to enter the building. “Let’s see how bad that storm is then we can decide how to get out of here.” he told her. Depending on the weather, they could either use his lightcycle to try to beat the storm to his place… Or they could hitch a ride in the trucks and stay dry.

The doors were still open, and Nora shivered as a blast of cold air came ripping through it, whipping her bangs around her face. Bit tumbled in the wind for a moment before finding shelter behind Nora's back.
"I can ask Achilles if they still need the trucks," she said.

“Good idea.” Cor agreed quickly as he braced himself against the strong gale. It was definitely not good weather to even try driving a lightcycle.

"The sooner we get these trucks back to the city, the sooner they can get back to Edison," Nora said, hunching slightly in anticipation of the wind and stepping out of the room. She hated being in the son of a glitch's debt, and seeing the trucks was a reminder that, sooner or later, he'd call and ask a favour of her. No matter what he said, he always made sure she paid him back. Always.

Cor nodded, assuming that Edison was the contact who had supplied the trucks. “Then we should hurry. Hopefully, one of the drivers won't mind making a quick detour.” he managed to smile at her though he wasn't too sure of his own words. Especially if Edison had worked with the original owner of Nora’s bar…

"I don't think they'll mind," Nora said, shivering softly in the cold as the doors closed behind them. "And I think it's a good idea to hurry. That storm isn't very far away."
The wind was playing with her bun, which looked dangerously close to coming out. The trucks weren't far, three hulking, boxy shapes in the midst of the cold and wind.

Cor instinctively pulled Nora close to his side as he noticed her shivering, placing his arm around her shoulders. “Then let's go.” he smiled at her as he felt very relieved to be out of that building. He was actually tempted to pick her up and run towards the trucks but… it didn't seem like the right time.

Nora leaned into him, grateful for his support. There was a weight off of her shoulders now that they were out of the arena.
A sudden gust of wind whipped across them, untangling Nora's bun completely; her hair came streaming down her back, a ribbon of pink.
"Oh, stars," she muttered, reaching up to fiddle with her ponytail.

Cor almost felt the wind push them back as the cold cut into him. Glancing at Nora he couldn't help but laugh a little as she fussed over her hair when it came loose. Honestly, he liked how her hair looked when it was free… Though he understood the professionalism of having it tied back. “Come on. You can redo your hair in the truck… Or at my place.” he smiled again, gently urging her onward.

Nora smiled at him, letting her hand drop back to her side. Before long, they were at the trucks, and it was only after Nora had clambered in that she realised they still needed to talk to Achilles.
"I need to ask Achilles if we can use these," she said, making to clamber out again.

Cor raised a brow at her comment but helped her back out. “Do you want me to come with you?” he asked, admittedly curious as to why she felt she needed to ask him.

"You can if you want," Nora said, clambering back out again; the wind promptly blew her ponytail into her face, her hair going into her mouth. Making a face, she brushed her hair out of her face. "I just need to make sure he and the other medics are done. I don't want to make them drive lightcycles back to the city in this wind."