Now in neutral territory, it wasn't long before Kriss was spotted by a pair of familiar eyes. The Battery scout didn't do anything at first, instead he remained concealed within the abandoned buildings while he cautiously tracked his former comrade. Indeed, it took a while for him to work out who the battered woman was, given her state. Had it been someone else, he may not have recognised her at all. But Aaron knew Kriss far to well. Every Battery scout who Kriss was; she was one of the best, after all; fast, cunning and intelligent. She got the job done without ever being caught.<br/><br/>Until now, of course.<br/><br/>Aaron couldn't help but grin a little as he watched the once proud woman stumble pathetically down the road, her body half ruined. Not much by way of empathy entered his mind; he had spent to much time out in the ruins and seen to much horror already, as far as he was concerned, this was just how things went. He did feel a healthy dose of schadenfreude though. Competing with Kriss for years had led to Aaron building up a lot of bitterness towards her; he couldn't count the times she'd beaten him to a newly discovered stash, or succeeding in feats he wouldn't have dared himself. How could he not feel just a little bit of amusement at seeing the arrogant bitch brought low like this?<br/><br/>After watching for a little while, to make sure it wasn't a trap (and to enjoy the spectacle), Aaron finally approached Kriss. With practised stealth, he came up behind her, before giving her a friendly slap on her whip welted back. "Hello, Kris!" He grinned, "looks like you've been hanging with the Patricks, that's not like you." He chuckled, "come one, let's go see what we can do for you." Without waiting for an answer, he took a firm hold of her yoke and began to lead her, walking briskly.<br/><br/>He travelled with her for a block before taking her down a side-street. There, he took a small door into one of the adjacent buildings. He led her for a little way through the run down hallways, before taking her down a set of stairs that led into the small basement that served as his hideout. It was a cosy little dwelling; a small fire was already burning in the centre of the room, positioned under a ventilation shaft to act as a chimney. Stockpiles of food and other equipment were stacked against the walls, and several mattresses lay on the floor.<br/><br/>Aaron half helped and half forced Kriss over to the fire, sitting her down next to it. He dragged a box up behind her for her to lean against, before taking a seat across from her. "I must say, I wasn't expecting to see you again." He said, reclining back, "you're a lucky girl; the Patricks don't usually let you go if you're dumb enough to get caught." Aaron shook his head, smiling, "still, I'm guessing they didn't let you go without a little bit of punishment." Suddenly, he leaned forwards again, looking intently at her, "I'm curious, I gotta say; what did they do with you dumb ass? Tell me, how many lucky fella's have got to use that pretty cunt of yours?"