Michael stepped into the mines, carefully looking around and trying not to seem out of place. Inside, the area was about medium size, dimly lit with a few hanging lanterns.
"Nothing really out of the ordinary.." Michael sighed, "No guards up here either? I mean, it isn't a major base... So I guess they wouldn't have much."
He began to walk forward, coming up to a small lift with a lever to the left. "Ah."
Michael stepped onto the platform, reaching forward and pulling the lever.
The platform began to slowly descend, only being held by two chains. As he descended, the sound of metal clinking against metal could be heard.
"Ahh, they've got slaves mining here?" Michael mumbled to himself, chuckling a little.
As the platform began to slow down, a man with the same uniform came into view. He seemed to have no hair on his head, but had a thick, black beard. He was quite short too.
"A dwarf.." Michael thought, walking up to him. His shadow was cast over the dwarf, causing him to look up.
"Ah! I've been wondering when I could swap my shift with someone." He had a thick Irish accent.
His eyebrows raised as he saw Michael's facial features. "Well, aren't you a handsome devil?" The man chuckled to himself.
"I haven't seen you around before. Are you new or something?" The man's eyes narrowed as he began to rub his chin.
Michael however, remained undeterred. "Ah! Yeah, my name is Gabe. They deployed me here recently." He kept a calm demeanor, his body language signaling confidence.
"Where's your ID, recruit? My name is Hubal by the way." He said, extending a hand for a handshake.
Michael extended his hand, firmly shaking the man's hand. "Well, I left my wallet at home."
"Ah, check your pockets or something. I'm sure you wouldn't just leave the most important thing in your wallet." Hubal said, a grin on his face.
"Gotta be shitting me..." Michael thought. Just as he was going to pull out the ID, alarm sirens began to blare.
"Oh, the device is about to start another Surge. Just make sure you have a good core." Hubal chuckled as Michael slid the ID back into the inside of his trench coat.
"A surge? Doesn't that mean there's a Source here?" Michael asked and he watched Hubal firmly planted his feet into the ground.
"Yep. A Source that provides a good amount of energy and releases a lot of mana that we can capture. This one's a fine producer alright." Hubal said, placing his hand as firmly on the stoney wall as he could.
"After the Surge, I'll lead you to it. I'll just tell them I'm showing you around." Hubal said, as Michael looked down the narrow corridor.
This was just the entrance to the mines, a sort of tunnel. It wasn't big, it was 8 feet from one wall to the other. It was big enough for a few people, since equipment and minerals were often transported.
Michael saw a subtle glow at the end of the tunnel, a voice then spoke over an intercom.
The glow was a bright blue, and slowly getting brighter. "Surge in 3... 2... 1..."
Michael waited in anticipation, watching the glow fade. "I thought you s-" He was cut off by a shockwave and a small quake afterward. The shockwave pushed his back a bit, but he stood his ground.
He looked around, watching as small pebbles of dust began to fall from the ceiling. After a few seconds, the quaking stopped.
"Wow... Usually the shockwaves are able to knock a fully grown orc on their asses." Hubal chuckled. "Let's go."
Hubal began to walk forward, Michael following right behind. "I'm sure a handsome guy such as yourself gets all the ladies, and I right?"
Michael chuckled. "Yeah, you don't know how many I've had to turn down."
"Being pretty is a privilege you young folks have. Me? I'm 55 in a few days and balding. I still have a wife and daughter that love me though." Hubal said, turning the corner and revealing an open space. People in various shapes and sizes were mining away at the walls. Other guards were monitoring them, some making sure the slaves could even work.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Michael looked at the sight. His expression remained neutral, but deep down he felt disgusted. How can someone with a whole family subject others to such harsh labor and punishment.
Hubal greeted the other guards, introducing Michael to them.
They went through a variety of different security clearances and corridors. With a little sweet talk, they were able to enter the Main Room.
"This, we call the Main Room." Hubal said, stepping into the observation room. Various control panels and buttons dawned both the floor and the upper part of the glass window. In front of them stood an impossibly spherical orb. It has a radius of at least 40 feet from what it looked like.
"This one's quite big..." Michael said, examining it.
"Of course. Sources are extra-dimensional oddities that seem to defy all logic and understanding. First of all, even though we look at it, something in our body or mind tells us it's not real. Secondly, as far as we know, no one can physically touch it, and the smart guys here call it a 'metaphysical' object. They theorize so far this source is composed of either our desires, or a concept entirely... Whatever smart shit they say. I don't understand it." Hubal said, sighing as he turned around. "You've seen enough, now. Let's get you to work."
Michael sighed, examining the room one last time. 15 heavily armed guards, and about 18 researchers. This was going to prove a little difficult. Or, he could simply just go guns blazing, but then they might signal reinforcements.
Michael followed Hubal back to the tunnel with the lift.
"Alright. Well, you'll be keeping watch down here and make sure no unexpected visitors come through here. I'm going to supervise the workers." Hubal waved, walking back down the tunnel.
Michael made sure no one was around before tapping the earpiece.
"Guys? Hello?" Michael whispered.
"What is it?" Braxton answered first.
"Hey Braxton. Did you know there was a Source in these mines?" Michael asked, curious about how much he knew.
"What? No... Director Bugern was supposed to inform me of any and all discoveries in the mines... Unless..." Braxton then felt silent for a moment before a loud crash could be heard on the other end. "THAT FUCKER BETRAYED US!"
"Okay. I'll deal with this as stealthily as I can. Hopefully I won't have to use my weapon." Michael tapped the earpiece twice. "Mason?"
Michael took out a phone to act like he was talking with a family member as he saw the lift ascending.
On the other end, the constant sound of gunshots and heavy fire, most likely from artillery.
"What's up!" He yelled over the other end, laughing a little.
"There's a Source here... It's stable, thankfully, but they're extracting the mana and energy from it." Michael said with a hint of concern.
He then heard the lift start to descend. "Shit." He whispered as he immediately hung up.
Putting his phone away, he got back into position, his expression remaining stoic.
Good thing the lift was kind of loud. It would allow his conversation to be drowned out. Besides, they were 170 meters below the surface.
As Michael turned to his left, he saw a man in a white coat. He had on a black shirt and some sleek black pants held up by a belt. He had short yellow hair with blue eyes, and black glasses. He stood at 6'4.
"Oh? Who may you be?" The man spoke fluently.
"Oh! I'm a recruit, sir. You are?" Michael asked, hoping to get his name.
"Ooh. Okay. I'm Director Bugern." He said, extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Michael shook his hand.
Bugern's grip was firm... A little too firm.
Suddenly, Bugern attempted to strike Michael's gut, believing to have hit him. He was surprised when his punched was blocked, however, steam coming from Michael's palm.
"Is this how you treat your recruits?" He asked, chuckling.
"Only if they've dispatched other members like the two outside." Bugern narrowed his eyes, immediately cupping his hand with Michael's and attempted to throw him down.
However, a bullet went right through his head as Michael held his pistol, a small smile on his face as he watched his body go limp.
"Guess the cover is blown." Michael said, shrugging as he yanked his hand away, beginning to walk back into the deeper part of the mines.
As he walked, he came across Hubal whipping a slave. "Ah... Gabe. What was that gunshot I heard earlier?"
"We had an intruder." Michael said while pointing the gun at him, shooting him in his legs and causing him to scream out.
"What's the m-meaning of this, Gabe?" Hubal said, trying to breathe through the pain.
The slaves looked afraid, but a glimmer of hope shone in their eyes. Maybe they were free!
"Ahh, well, I can't say I take too kindly to people torturing others." He sighed, pointing the gun at him.
"P-please! I have a family!" He shielded his face.
"So do these people." Michael said, pulling the trigger.
"I must say... My one weakness is innocent people." He mumbled to himself, continuing to wander through the cave.