Chapter 1 - A warm breakfast

  In a seemingly endless infestation of concrete tubes snaking their way through the earth, most lie empty. The only sound echoing though the kilometers of tunnels was the humming of the cold blue lights, dotted exactly 25 meters apart. However in one tunnel, the magnetic track roared to life as a bullet train shot through the underground tunnels. A woman with short black hair, piercing brown eyes and tanned skin, wearing a weary and tired expression was sat sandwiched between the window and a broad shouldered man. She was motionless, with the only movement being her short black hair as the overhead air vent shot a chilling gust against the back of her head. The wrinkles around her young face made it seem she was older than she was. Starting training at 20, the five years had taken a heavy toll on her. During a tough training exercise she almost lost both eyes, a scar across her nose and just below her eyelids reminding her of that slip up everyday. Lisa sat staring at her helmet as the cold lights from the tunnel were reflected on the faceplate’s glassy surface. An almost entirely black helmet, its faceplate was the only change from the matte graphene plating covering the rest of it. The red glow of the onboard AI hummed softly, fading in and out through the tinted faceplate. She always thought she looked evil wearing it. Glancing from the helmet she looked at her L41 rifle which was slung over her shoulder. Fortunately she had never used it in actual combat, but it still had the slight scratches and paint chippings from the grueling training. Looking up from the laser rifle she looked around the packed train.

  The cart she was in, and all the conjoining carts, were all the same: transport type. Rows of five chairs filled every available slot apart from the small alley on the right side of the cart. Lisa’s knees pushed into the hard plastic chair in front of her, trying to adjust to be slightly more comfortable, her connected spinal port locking her down. She had gotten used to the steel spine that replaced her bone one. although giving greater control over connected vehicles, in situations like this, where her muscles were locked into an almost neck down stasis it was never fun. Having given up moving she looked to the window. Concrete and blue lights were the only thing she had seen since the train set off. Trying to distract herself from how her knees were getting numb she looked around at the others, they were all in the same robotically enhanced suits, they were black with the same matte graphene plating as their helmets but the undersuit was a Kevlar mix. “Company secret", they told them. Looking up from their uniform amour, their expressions fitted the mood of the train. All stared ahead with soulless eyes, from the bags under some of their eyes they hadn't slept last night. She didn't blame them as Lisa only got a few hours of sleep, mainly due to her recent late night patrols she had been given.

  Just before heading to sleep last night a confidential alert pinged all of the IZ-200 platoons with an immediate deployment order. Most had already resigned themselves to the fact that they would die within the next few weeks but the scarce few still in disbelief looked around frantically for something to latch on to, some hoping that they could get out; but that's not how it works. The Falling Mountains company has numerous enemies and threats, some being governmental interference, other times it was rival companies; most of the time it was terrorists.

  Sighing Lisa looked out of the window again, a singular percentage filling her mind. No matter how many thoughts she threw up to distract herself with, she still thought about it. 23.59%. The survival rate of corporate soldiers; she knew everyone else on this train also had that number at the forefront of their minds. It was something the older recruits used to say to the newer ones before they fully understood. It's only when they lose a few dozen in training when they get it. But no one here would mention it, the reality of what that number looks like is too devastating. Shaking her head and trying to think positively as she struggled against panic, she thought about where she might be going.

  “Krotata seems relatively calm but the heat was intense, District 93 would be the worst. I would rather not have my skin corrode to those toxic cultists." Lisa thought to herself, feeling even worse than before, “maybe Trasvata… Oh wait- they’re probably dealing with the fallout from those bombs Atomig industries dropped a while back. Or will we be sent to quell that new transhumanist group? On second thoughts that was the worst out of them all.”

  She thought of the reports from the people fighting them, it wasn't uncommon for people to take the cybernetics from fallen soldiers but this group would use non lethal force and take their victims into their camps and rip out the augments with the person still alive. She didn't know much about them as information was kept confidential but from the snippets of talk she had heard, those freaks thought that if a still warm cybernetic is implanted inside a willing user they could leave this life for a better one once they die. Who knows where, but she thought they were insane. Imagining her spine being removed made her feel sick.

  A small nudge on her arm brought her back to reality as she looked at her friend.

  “Are you doing ok there Lisa?” Joe asked in his soft voice. His sharp blue eyes shone like sapphires against his pale skin. His short blonde hair was shading his face from the sterile white lights of the train as he looked at her. His large build made it tough to look at the person beside him without leaning over and even though they were the same age he was a head taller, making him look down. They always joked how he got lucky and how the stress never made him look older than 22 but Lisa secretly envied it.

  “You seemed a bit out of it.”

  Lisa looked back at her helmet and sighed.

  “You know I can't wait to grab some ice cream once this train stops.” Joe continued, changing the subject completely, "I didn't think my ass getting this numb would want me to crave some ice cream, but it sure does.” He looked again at Lisa, gauging her reaction. Honestly Lisa hated ice cream because it was too sour for her liking and she didn't like the fizzy aftertaste that kept her awake for a couple more hours. Starting back up again, Joe continued “I do hope they have cookie dough. Everytime i try to grab one during rec, they are always gone. I could kill for one…” Lisa flinched at the word. Joe’s face fell- He gritted his teeth realising what he’d said. Before he could speak up again, Lisa broke the silence, still looking at her helmet.

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  “Where do you think we are going, Joe?” his head dropped and turned to his helmet.

  “Most likely Krotata, word in the barracks is that two of our silos fell into those monster’s hands.” his words started to tremble but he composed himself, “they launched an antimatter warhead into the residential block of that base. 126,000 people vaporised.” Joe finished with a shaky voice; his attempts to compose himself had failed. They both fell silent as the only sound they heard was the quiet murmurs of their other platoon mates and the overwhelming sound of the train.

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  A man with long blonde hair reaching his lower back, sat on a boulder at the cave entrance looking at the woodland in front of him. He wore a modest beige shirt and leather trousers, simple well worn shoes covering his feet as he tapped them following a song he was humming. His face was normal for an elf, with a hairless jaw and emerald eyes, and long sharp ears; he was quite lucky and thankful not to have the many cuts delivered to his face stick around, otherwise he would get the wrong attention. He worked on polishing his half plate armour and cleaning his sword that leaned against his rock. Having already checked his shield thoroughly, he laid it next to his already packed traveling bag. Leandros looked up as the heavy rain hammered the trees and softened the dirt ground- Although he didn't like going out in the rain, he loved the smells the woodland gave off while it was raining. He also admired how the colours seemed to pop, the deep green leaves and dark trunks of the oak trees contrasted greatly with the soft patches of bright green grass, dotted with bluebells. His long elven ears could hear the sizzling of meat over the fire behind him so, with a deep breath of fresh air, he turned to his companions. Timalis sat by the fire cooking up breakfast for them all. He used his forest green cloak as a cushion against the stony and muddy cave floor; his long brown hair was tied up with string revealing his strong jaw and messy stubble. He wasn't wearing his leathers but he wore a coarse white shirt with a large v neck showing off his toned body, and black trousers. Next to him Ithlix meditated, choosing to sit under a hole in the cave roof, he was hammered by rain all night, his onyx scales glistened, exaggerating his sculpted chest. His red-pattened baggy trousers were soaked, sticking to his crossed legs, but the chilling cold did not faze the scaled man. Even when cold rain fell on the tips of his upright horns and slid across his face and down to his snout, he did not move. The only slight reaction to the annoying rain running towards his nose was his hotter than normal breath vaporising them before they tickled him again.

  “Breakfast will be a moment, eggs are taking a minute" Timalis spoke out loud.

  “Are mine scrambled?” Ithlix asked, cracking open a golden eye

  “ ‘Course big man,” Timalis said with faux outrage, “Im not Orthanis” they both cracked a smile and looked at Orthanis.

  Sprawled half in and out of her bed roll, her long silver hair was knotted and messy. Orthanis wore her red nightgown but her normal white robes were folded neatly next to her backpack. She looked so peaceful with a slight smile while her long ears twitched occasionally.

  “I don't know how she does it, I really don't." Ithlix added, “who would have guessed the sleeping elf all quiet here would be the reason for us almost being wyvern food.” he chuckled

  “How did that start again? Socks was asking me to pick up a particular tome.” A woman's voice came from deep within the cave, approaching into the light. A woman wearing a royal purple nightdress walked towards the fire and sat beside it. With a brush in hand she straightened her long black hair.

  “Well Katlin, after convincing Leandros and I to head to the Green Leaf for some post quest drinks. She got quite drunk within two hours so we headed to the inn. Isn't that right?” Ithlix turned to Leandros who was still sitting at the cave entrance.

  “Oh yeah, she was wasted. Went hard on the dwarven shit.” Leandros laughed, finally making his way to the campfire. The smell of cooking meat and eggs finally drew him in. “she then thought it was a great idea, while we held her up by her shoulders, to ask a random passing wyvern youngling why it wasn't a dragon. I have not seen a more angry creature in all my years. If it wasn't your silver tongue calming him slightly, Ith and Timalis showing up in the nick of time and giving us an excuse, I at least would have gotten singed.”

  “Ahh, so that's what that was. I thought it was one of her many suitors getting rejected again.” Timalis shot back once the gears stopped turning in his head, trying to remember when this was.

  The company laughed causing the still sleeping elf to stir. Timalis looked over at the woman and spoke up, “hey princess, breakfast is cooking. Whatcha want?”. Timalis’ words seemed to finally awaken the woman as she groggily sat up. Rubbing her eyes she looked at the smiling group.

  “Huh? yeah sure...” she responded absentmindedly, “is there something on my face?” she said with a little hostility after examining her friends' faces.

  “Nothing on your face,” Katlin said softly as she picked up her ebony staff, its magenta crystal embedded in its wooden shaft glowing as she drew on its magic to float the brush to the Orthanis. “But yet again your hair is a mess.”. Taking the brush, she thanked the witch with a nod and a smile.

  Once Orthanis finally stood up with her hair done up in her signature pony tail, Leandros thought it was a good time to bring up today's objective. “Well now that we are all awake, or mostly awake, I wanted to ask if we could reach the anomaly tonight?” he turned to Timalis who nodded.

  “Following the map provided and using the natural hunting paths we should reach the spot by nightfall.” the ranger added.

  “Right. Once we get to the spot, Katlin, are you able to do the mana survey?” Leandros turned to look over the fire at the woman in purple.

  She waved him off. “Should be easy enough, the area the Archwizard specified wasn't that large and it should only take an hour to create the report needed.”

  “Seems like we wont be needed, huh Leandros?” Ithlix said, finally sitting by the fire with a bowl of scrambled eggs.

  “Maybe, but it's good that you boys are here just in case a few pests want to interfere.” Katlin interjected chomping down on a chunk of fried meat. “I would be so pissed if my recording gets stopped, the mana required for these surveys would take a while to regenerate and Socks is already annoyed at how much he has to produce already.”

  “And I’ll do what I normally do on these types of jobs.” Orthanis spoke up while stretching.

  They all nodded in agreement and dug into their meal, ready for the simple hike awaiting them.