|| Paranoia I: New Meat

The skies were a dark blue, as clouds draped across the night sky while rain poured from above. It began as a light sprinkle above the buildings below. Within the near edge of the city resided a perimeter of warehouses, totaling to around 30 total. These warehouses used to be for storage for companies to store their goods, but haven't been in use after the upkeep the warehouses couldn't maintain them in good shape, they haven't been in use for a decade. The gang spanned across 6 warehouses, all with different purposes. One of them was for weaponry and armory, they kept their guns and bullet vests for specific groups in the gang to use when told. Another was storage, just for any haul they make and to send to their main quarters away from the warehouses. The third was their food bank, where they kept their food and would usually just allow members to come in and grab whatever they wanted. Usually, they stay inside the facility to eat but they may also leave to eat elsewhere. The fourth is where they kept their vehicles, which is pretty necessary to have cars if you're moving around town. The final two warehouses are on opposite sides of each other facing inwards, these are the commanding facilities where preparations and planning take place. It's usually just a hang-out area but Charlotte took her role as chief seriously and has better results than her peers in other branches. In one of the commanding facilities resided Charlotte where she was treated in the infirmary for her mental exhaustion. The room was dimly lit for everyone being treated to rest for the night while also allowing those who helped to look over them. But this night, only Charlotte was there, when so many more should've been with her at least. Charlotte was sitting up looking down at her blanket over her lap. She looked outside of the window behind her bed where she was sitting to see the raindrops fall from above and hit the glass. She began to contemplate the events that happened earlier that night, but she didn't pay any further mind to it as she got out of bed and into the main room where she was greeted by her members' eyes in surprise at seeing her out so suddenly. She was then asked questions about her health and her current state. She was cornered in front of the door she came from demanding questions about her well-being. "Chief, is your head okay??" "Chief, are you sure you should be out of bed?!" Chief this, chief that, there was no end. "Back away would ya?!" A voice from the second floor of the facility yelled at all the members below overwhelming Charlotte. It was her second in command, Tonia. "She just got out well and you're already gonna give her a headache! Shut your shit and get back to what you were doing and leave Charlotte alone!" They all looked at her collectively as if they hated her, but they knew she was also right about what she had just said. Soon enough all of them reluctantly backed away and returned to their take, because they knew it'd cost them otherwise. Charlotte turned around to look up where Tonia was, and gave her a nod as if saying ‘thank you.’ Tonia of course nodded back as she went to the ladder that connected the first and second floor as she slid down from the railing. “So, feeling better?” Charlotte gave her a neutral face. “What? Can't your second-in-command ask her chief if she can still handle this pack of idiots?” Charlotte sighed, “Still, hypocritical but, yes. I'm better compared to earlier.” Tonia nodded as relief washed over her. “So tell me, what exactly happened out there?” Charlotte feels a shock throughout her entire body as if the words she knew to say were poisoning her at the same time. “Well … Uh …” “Hey, it's okay. It must've been really bad if you're still shaken about it.” Charlotte exhaled as she rested her back against the wall and put her hand on her head. “Seems to me that you AREN'T fine,” Tonia said whilst crossing her arms. Charlotte closed her eyes as she nodded in agreement that she wasn't ready to lead again just yet. Tonia sighed, “You go rest in the infirmary, I'll take control while you're resting up in there. And don't worry, I'll make sure to have them in shape, as well glad have you checked every couple of hours or so.” Tonia gave Charlotte a thumbs up, and soon after Charlotte did as well. “Thanks,” Charlotte said with a slight grin on her face. Tonia huffed with pride, “No problem. Now get your ass back in there. I've got work to do.

“Don't push it.”

“Right-!”

With that conversation being made, Tonia marched forward to instruct certain groups of people while Charlotte went back into the infirmary to lay on the bed she was on before and sleep.

The city was in darkness of the night along with the storm that was approaching, rain began to pour heavily from above as the gang began to wear raincoats to move from one place to another. Most people would be asleep in the city as fewer and fewer cars drove around, but not the local gang. They were planning to deal with the other gang that they opposed while Tonia filled in Charlotte’s shoes for the time being to allow her to rest properly and return to lead the crew again.

While Tonia was setting a devised plan with other members to do an operation that’d put their opposition, there was an argument that had emerged from outside. “Watch where you goin’ fucker!” Tonia then stood outside to see members grouping up to see what was going on. “What’s up with them,” Tonia asked to someone who had been standing outside before her. “Some guy with a newsboy cap covering his eyes bumped into Macho and had him get pissed off the shits,” they responded. Tonia took it as another one of those petty arguments the members would typically have that would calm down soon after, she then decided to get back to what she was doing as she walked back to the facility she was just in. “Sorry big guy, did it hurt?” The “newsboy” who had bumped into Macho said, almost in a way to mock him. “What did you say?!” Macho asked aloud, visibly angered by his question. “You think that little push would hurt me?! You callin’ me weak?!” The other person shrugged with his hands up, “Woah! I didn’t mean to pull a nerve on your pride!” Veins quickly emerged from Macho as his patience was slowly dwindling. “I’ll fuck you up, boy!”

“Hey now… I’m in my 20’s! And from what I heard, you’re the little one since you’re 19,” the other said with a slight chuckle. Macho became immensely aggravated as he was being insulted by someone he deemed inferior. He threw a punch at the guy which made the ground crumble from his fist making contact with the ground but not against the person. Within the crowd, a voice familiar to Macho called out, “Dang, I would’ve been battered if I hadn’t moved!” Macho looked to his left to see the newsboy standing next to the crowd surrounding them. In a moment of silence, they all looked around until Macho spotted him.

The newsboy bumped his elbow into the girl next to him, “Can you believe how strong that guy is?” He asked while the girl nodded as if to avoid making Macho even more mad. “Get over here!” Macho charged at the newsboy with a fist ready to launch at him. The crowd in his general direction yelled and screamed as they got out of the way except for the newsboy. The newsboy stanced as he got ready to evade Macho’s punch. Once Macho let loose his fist to him, he swung his other arm behind him where the newsboy was, sending him flying to a stack of crates on the sidelines. Macho laughed, “Weren’t as good as you thought you were, huh?!” Tonia stepped out from the facility again, marching towards the fight. “Okay you two, break it up!” Macho looked over his shoulder to look at Tonia behind him. He turned to face her, towering above Tonia. “This idiot wanted to cause problems, so I’m just putting him in his place,” Macho said while turning back to the rubble from the crates. “I’m ordering you to cease this fight immediately,” Tonia said, scowling. “Don’t get snuffy on me, second-in-command,” Macho said, mocking her position and challenging her authority.

“Yeah? Well as your second-in-command, you must listen to me while the chief is recovering!”

“I only listen to actual orders from the chief, not her handy helper. Not get out of the way or else you’ll get hurt.” Tonia grew more irritated as he was implying to continue this pointless fight. “I said to cut it off!” Even then, Macho didn’t listen to her orders as he still walked over to the rubble. As he was in front of the mess, he stomped powerfully on the ground as the wood pieces snapped on impact and the concrete cracked around his foot.

Behind Tonia, someone tapped her shoulder to get her attention. It so happened to be the newsboy who was thought to be in the rubble, but Tonia didn’t know he was the one who was fighting Macho, to begin with. “Hey second Cap’n, you wanted this to stop now, right?” Tonia nodded, “Yes, I did. But Macho didn’t listen, so it’s a lost cause. The guy is probably dead now… Macho’s attacks are barbaric and powerful, there’s no way he’s alive. I guess it ended in the way I didn’t want…”

“Geez Cap’n, I just asked a simple question!” The newsboy said with a chuckle. “I just wanted to know if it was okay for me to stop this fight before someone gets really hurt from his guy’s stupidity.” Tonia was confused by the way he phrased his comment. She took it like as if the fight were to continue, but at a second glance at him, she realized that he was the newsboy-capped person who got caught up in the fight with Macho. “W-wait… you… you’re the person who Macho is fighting…”

“That’s right. What about it?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in the crates?? Or was that someone else??”

“Nope, it was me. I just got out of the way before he made that stomping impact.”

Tonia’s jaw dropped as she acknowledged his speed and agility were beyond anything she’d ever seen. But she knew that alone wouldn’t be enough to stop Macho. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna go at him head-on!” Tonia pleaded to have him to not get himself killed trying to take down Macho. “I won’t. I’ll just do it.” He said bluntly. Before Tonia could even respond, he yelled out to Macho, “Hey Nacho! Missed a spot!” Macho would turn around, grumbling to see the newsboy entirely in piece. “HOW DID YOU GET AWAY?!” The newsboy chuckled proudly. “Well I-” Macho then smashed the ground in the blink of an eye where Tonia and the newsboy were standing. Macho then turned around to see the newsboy carry Tonia before setting her down. “You okay second Cap’n?” Tonia was sweating as if her life flashed before her eyes before snapping back into reality and looking at the newsboy. “You… saved me-” He nodded, “You weren’t kidding… he’s entirely lacking restraint.” Macho then charged at them without them noticing. Tonia caught on to the suddenness of Macho, but before she could react, the newsboy-capped person high-kicked Macho in the chin, canceling his momentum and dropping him on the ground with the same leg downward against Macho’s face, knocking him out and ending the fight.

Tonia was speechless by what happened in front of her. The newsboy turned around to pat her on the shoulder. “There, it's over,” he said sternly. “How … did you do … that, thing-?” Tonia asked as she was clearly baffled by his strength to knock out their strongest group member. “Sheer strength I guess!” He responded to her enthusiastically. “BUT GEEZ DOES HIS HEAD HURT LIKE KICKING A STEEL GIRDER…” He jumped around while holding the leg he used to kick Macho as he tried to rub it and make it ease. Tonia then regained her composure before being lead to thought. She didn't recall anyone on the team that wore a newsboy cap like he did to cover their eyes. She approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder, “Say, what's your name anyways?” Her breath was heavy as she was unsure as of who he was, leading her to suspect that he could've been a rat from an opposition or maybe even the police. “Oh,” he answered. “Name’s … Tyrenel.” Tonia didn't like the pause before answering. She decided to interrogate him for some information while not trying to seem like she's onto him. “So… uh… Tyrenel. Can I just call you ‘Ty?’” “I don't mind at all,” he replied, his voice was silky and comforting for Tonia. She felt a sort of ease being with Tyrenel, which was never the case for anyone else besides Charlotte as her chief. “Welp, I gotta go meet head chief!” Tonia jumped and stopped him there. “What do you want with her,” she asked. “It better not be something insignificant because she's out of commission for the time being,” she says sternly to accentuate her authority but still feeling soft for the guy. Tyrenel scratches his head, “I forgot …” he says obliviously. Tonia was confused to how he'd forget what he needed of her. She planted his face in her palm before reaching out to pat his shoulder. “Well if you don't remember then maybe you should wait it ou-” “I REMEMBER!” Tyrenel exclaimed, cutting off Tonia which left her annoyed. “Okay, then what did you nee-” “I'm here for hiring! I wanna be apart of the group!” Tyrenel tells her with a smile on his face, of course cutting her off mid sentence again. Tonia sighed in annoyance before offering her assistance. “New meat huh? Well, since I'm in charge… I can basically hire you without Charlotte’s concent,” she said proudly with a smirk. “Wouldn't that get you in trouble with the head chief?”

“OF COURSE NOT! She passed the baton to me so my authority equals hers so it's fine…,” she claims with a nonchalant shrug and smirk. Tyrenel stroked his chin while shrugging with his arms up. “Well that works for me then!” Tonia grabbed him by the collar of his jacket toward the facility she was in earlier. “We’ll start with a tour just you and me. Have you seen the main buildings? You gotta know ‘em. They're the most CRUCIAL places of our group!” They walked off as the people began to leave as well, leaving Macho behind in the mess of the scene before waking up. He lifted himself up and looked around himself to see people just passing by normally. “Whuh happen… how I got here… ugh…” he then faceplanted in the mud as he went back to being unconscious.