"I'm Frieda, by the way," the woman said to Niko as she led him through the snow. She was holding her shot gun over her shoulder, her glittering outfit still visible with her coat hanging open. "Frieda D. Viants."

"Okay." Niko's brain was swirling with questions, he wasn't sure where to start. "So, um, are you a woman or a man?"

Frieda laughed. "Why should I have to be one or the other? I know enough about you to know that you understand where I'm coming from. Part of me feels like a woman, part of my feels like a man. Why should I deny myself either of those identities?"

"Okay, so why do you know so much about me? Why are you saving me?"

"Well, that's what I do. I save deviants from the heartless regime that controls this country. You were a special case though."

"Why?"

"Let's just say we have a friend in common, no more talking, just keep up."

"It's not so easy walking through this snow in bare feet."

"Well, you shoulda taken some boots from those MEC agents I killed. I mean, you took the time to steal Proxy Kusneska's scarf, which looks bad ass on you by the way."

Niko smiled down at the scarlet silk that was draped over his shoulders. It was beautiful and he had wanted it ever since he was a child but the real weight of his decision was just starting to settle in. "It's a capital offense to steal from a Proxy."

"Sweetheart, I just killed four men. Capital offense is kinda my thing."

"Why? Why do you do this for people?"

"Nobody should have to go through the crap they put us through. I've seen the people left out in the cold, hurt and killed by the ones they love. It's not like that where I come from."

"So why not stay there?"

"Look, do you want me to finish saving you or would you rather I left you behind? Cause I don't like questions and I'm much better at helping people I like."

"Right, stop asking questions or die. I'm used to that sort of treatment."

Frieda snickered and shifted her shot gun on her shoulder. Niko couldn't help but wonder if she was doing it just to make sure he didn't forget she was in control. It was a gesture much like the proxy's authoritarian smile. "Look, just try to move a little faster. I've got a driver waiting nearby and then you can warm up your little toesies."

"So you're not just some lone crazy deviant with a death wish, you're part of a group of crazy deviants."

"All of us with our own death wish."

"How many of you are there?"

"Hard to tell. I work closely with a couple of people but there are a ton of us spread out all over Borrylea. We try not to communicate too much with each other so if one cell goes down the rest of us can keep operating safely."

They reached a large, old looking truck and Niko gladly moved a little faster. The sooner his feet were out of the snow, the better. Sitting in the driver's seat was a heavy set man. His face was smeared with grease stains and he was smoking a fat cigar. Through the window, Niko couldn't see much of the man below the shoulder but he was wearing a shirt made of grungy looking pink felt. "Finally, you're back."

"Yeah, all set to get outta here?" Frieda helped Niko climb up into the back seat, then she got into the seat beside the large man.

"The sooner the better," the driver said, "I don't wanna stick around any longer than we have to." The man lifted a pink hood over his head and Niko noticed it was in the shape of a unicorn's head. He revved the engine and they were off.

"Uh, I'm Niko."

"They call me Princess." The strange man behind the wheel didn't look at Niko as he spoke.

"Really?"

The unicorn man nodded as he put the truck into gear. "Princess Sparkles."

"What's with the, uh, unicorn?"

"What's with the proxy scarf?"

Nikolai looked down at his stolen garment again and shrugged. "I like it."

"Well, I guess we're both just wearing things we like, huh?"

"Oh my god, stop talking!" Frieda leaned her head back against her seat and closed her eyes. "I'm exhausted."

"I'm sorry I just... it's not every day I run away from home with a couple deviant strangers. Forgive me for wanting to know a little bit more about you."

"You don't need to know any more about us. We're just gonna get you to safety, then you'll never see us again."

"What about my family?"

"Leo will take care of them," Princess said but it didn't look like Frieda liked his answer.

"Leo? You know my brother?"

Frieda tossed her heels up onto the dashboard and closed her eyes. "What did I say about talking?"

They drove silently for an hour, taking back roads and eventually abandoning the roads all together. Nikolai was amazed at the way the truck was able to tackle any terrain, even the rocky plains of the hinterland were easily conquered.

"I built it myself," Princess said while Niko was lost taking in the appearance of the interior of the vehicle. It looked like it was pieced together with parts from dozens of other machines. "I'm a pretty good scavenger, can find anything, anywhere, or at least make use of the things I can find. You'd be surprised what ya find or what kinda uses you got for garbage and stuff. You know what they say about gar--"

"Sweet Princess," Frieda interrupted with a gentle hand on Princess' pink shoulder. "Shut the hell up."

Niko's head was spinning from trying to make sense of the unicorn man's words. He sounded grumpy but some how childish.

"Right-o, boss lady." Princess lazily saluted and went back to driving quietly. Eventually they reached what looked like an old coal refinery and Princess drove in through an open loading bay.

"What is this place?"

"There used to be a town here, before the mine dried up." Frieda hopped out of the truck and opened Niko's door for him. "Nobody around now, which makes it perfect for us. Come on, I'll show you where you'll be staying for the night."

Frieda led Niko through the abandoned refinery. He could see know where Princess undoubtedly found the pieces for his truck. There were other projects scattered around and Niko couldn't tell if the machines were being constructed or demolished.

"Princess Sparkles is brilliant, but he's got a short attention span. Always starting things and never finishing. Only once in a while does he come up with something amazing, like that truck of his. He's good at following orders though."

"I noticed that." Niko nodded as Frieda took him into what looked like an old overseer's office. There was a piles of cushions in the corner and Niko looked at it with worry. "Is that my bed? More comfortable than a prison cell at least."

"More comfortable than being locked in the stocks for days, that's for sure." Frieda turned to leave but she stopped at the door. "Try to get some rest. There's some food in the cupboard over there and clothes in the closet. Not a big selection but you should find some socks at least. I'll get Princess to bring you some shoes soon."

"Uh, yeah." Niko pulled his red scarf tighter as he looked around. "Thanks, for everything."

"Don't thank me, darling. I'm just doing what's right." She left the office and closed the door behind her, leaving Niko alone.