The smell of the city hit Midori's nostrils as she stepped out of the van. The neighbourhood surrounding Fort Lewis was not as well maintained as the girls' home in South Tacoma, and the smell of decaying food scraps and old alcohol pervaded the alley. A rat scurried between Midori's feet as she walked.<br/><br/>The alley definitely showed signs of being used by the two adjoining businesses as a way in and out of their rear entrances, as well as a way to discard unwanted materials. The side closest to the StufferShack was replete with wrappers and cartons from the franchise's shipments, while the other side had the greatest concentration of unpleasant alcohol smells.<br/><br/>There was a pile of crates just where Daisuke had described it, with a heap of blankets on a pallet next to it that seemed to serve as somebody's bed. Midori was able to reach into the crates and feel around, and discovered...<br/><br/>... nothing. Nothing but discarded plastic cups and bottles, anyway. The ruthenium polymer duffel bag was nowhere to be found.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, locals were already drifting towards the van, recognizing the Sony and Horizon charity logos it was broadcasting. Saiyako would be able to open up the back of the van and start serving food, if she so desired - there would be no shortage of hungry customers.<br/><br/>Saiyako saw one local, a middle-aged ork woman dressed in ill-kept soy-cloth scraps, turned into the alley and paused at its mouth, raising her voice in Midori's direction. "Hey, you!" she shouted. "What the frag are you doing in my squat?"