This is Freya, Braam said, his tone shifting, as if even he had great respect for her. She used to work at Neurogenesis. If ya want answers, she's the one to talk to.

Freya nodded, her voice soft but firm. Hi, she greeted, extending a hand. Her grip was firm, her eyes sharp and intelligent. I could feel the weight of her presence, like she carried the knowledge of the world on her shoulders. Braam told me you seek a history lesson. Let's talk, she said to me as she turned her attention to Braam. Leave us.

Braam patted me on the back. I'll leave you two to it. Behave, Nyers, he said with a smirk before walking off, his laughter fading into the ambient noise of the hideout.

Freya motioned for me to sit down at a nearby table, a battered piece of furniture covered in scratches and old graffiti. I took a deep breath, as the realization of how far I've come set in. Here I was, sitting across from someone who held the answers I had been searching for my entire life.

So, I began, trying to steady my voice. What happened to the city?

Freya's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was expecting a deeper question. She leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. You don't know? she asked.

I shook my head. No. I grew up in the Outskirts. My tone quietened, remebering my past. My parents were cast out of here right before it all happened. They never talked about it.

Her expression changed, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. It was as if she suddenly remembered something important, something dark. She looked at me intently, her eyes searching mine for a moment before she spoke. I see, she said slowly. It's evident that there are things you don't know. Things that aren't easy to talk about.

I leaned in, my heart pounding in my chest. What do you mean?

Her look straightened, distancing herself from the topic. That's a delicate subject. Certainly one that's not for ears of the public, she said cautiously, motioning with her eyes at the passing strangers.

Freya glanced around, ensuring we were not overheard. The dim light cast a shadow on her face as she leaned in, highlighting the intensity in her eyes. Listen, she said, lowering her voice, there stands a vault in the nearby Wasteland, that houses some important data leftover from Neurogenesis. I believe there are things you need to see for yourself.

I nodded, hiding the adrenaline coursing through my mind. Where is this vault?

The abandoned train yard, she instructed, her tone serious. Be there at midnight.

I agreed, feeling a sense of excitement. As I stood up, a sudden flash of light caught my attention. I turned my head to see a group of kids messing with an old robot dog making it spark and smoke. But when I looked back, Freya was gone.

All moments of fear or doubt were completely off the table now. The plan was set, all that was left was to see where this all leads.