Approach the guards

While it certainly wasn't the thing she wanted to do, it was the lesser of two evils, as she'd rather deal with the men down the passage than try and make it to the Lounge nearly-naked.

With a bit of trepidation, she turned down the side passage, the voices becoming more distinct as she walked down it. As they did, she heard her first distinct question, asked in a thin, reedy voice. "Any idea what we're haulin'?"

The other voice replied, in a deep bass tone, "Nope, and I wouldn't ask, either. Nobody gonna tell you what's bein' hauled. If Sledge so much as hears you breath that question, he'll knock you senseless. We're movers, nothing more. Might want to get ready. He oughta be here real soon. Wouldn't look good for you to hold him up."

By this point, Venus was at the corner they were around, and she listened for a few moments more. There wasn't too much more to be learned from them, aside from the one with the reedy voice was on his first run with this group, and had been told to meet Sledge here. Her guess was that Sledge was at least the leader of the runners, if not the entire gang, and he was coming this way, presumably taking something out of the city.

She swore quietly under her breath. She couldn't stay here. This other character was going to be coming her way. She might still have time to slip out the door before Sledge showed up, but that would be pushing it. As for the guards, she was torn between trying to take them out quickly, or just outright asking for a hand.