Earth - New York City - Post-Galactic War

It takes quite a while to rebuild a planet.

The Beryons had been pushed back and forced to sign a peace treaty. The Union, led by Humanity, had defeated them and forced them to give up their ships. The War was over. The troops went home. But rebuilding takes time.

Aden walked in the alleyways of what used to be colorful neighborhood. He could see expensive cars rusted out on the street and large steel buildings turned black with char. The important parts of New York City had been rebuilt, courtesy of the new corporations, but parts like this were still in ruin. People couldn’t fund reconstruction by themselves so they left it alone. A place of families lying abandoned and unused.

Perfect for what Aden and Julian needed to do.

The mission had been simple. A KhazorCorp facility lied somewhere on the edge of reconstructed NYC. Infiltrate it and steal one of their latest projects, an experimental prosthetic designed for soldiers. Then they would board a ship filled with refugees and bring the arm Echo Station. From there Aden would get the chance to hop on a ship and assume a new life. A peaceful living on one of Humanity’s newest colonies.

Of course it only sounded simple. When Julian had told Aden about the job he did leave out some details. For one: How were they going to smuggle the prosthetic out of the planet?

“Simple.” Julian had said “We attach it to you and smuggle you on the ship”.

Thats where they were headed now. The stealing part of the job went without a hitch. KhazorCorp hired many ex-military personnel to act as security. Your average person would’ve had a tough time getting through them. Aden and Julian? Well, they were no stranger to military tactics. Turns out former soldiers don’t switch up their routines all too much.

“Don’t worry kid. We’re almost there now.” Said Julian as he ducked underneath a fallen roof beam. They had made it to within one of the smoked buildings and were trying to make it to the basement. Their contact was to meet them there.

“No thats alright, I quite like bonking my head on broken pieces of metal.” Said Aden, his voice a touch more strained than he wanted. Julian could duck and weave and get his footing underneath him with ease but it was much harder for Aden. He had lost his left arm during the Galactic War and, while he had gotten used to living without it, stuff like this was still hard.

“Sorry, you’ve got a couple more small bonks here and then one big one scheduled before we get you on that ship” said Julian. He had slowed down and offered his hand to Aden for support.

“Can we even trust this guy?” said Aden. He had agreed to the plan and put his trust in Julian. Aden would’ve followed Julian into any combat zone but this doctor was an unknown. Who knows what he would do?

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“I mean look at this place!” said Aden as he, once again, had to walk over a pile of collapsed concrete.

“I hear this guy’s been performing surgery for decades. He’s also former military you know? Bet he’d love to see us!” said Julian

Somehow that didn’t make Aden feel any better.

“Just think about it like this. Couple moments and we’ll put you to sleep and then when you wake up you’ll be on a starship to Echo Station.” Said Julian. “Couple of days after that and you’ll be on a ship with a shiny new arm and enough money in your pocket to retire at the ripe age of 22” said Julian.

Aden laughed. The Galactic War had wasted Julian's talents, he could have been a killer comedian.

At last they arrived to some steel doors that looked in surprising condition given the rubble thrown all the way around it. Julian turned towards Aden and gave him the OK sign. “Ready for this?” said Julian. Aden nodded.

Four quick strikes against the steel door and then the men waited. The was silence for only a moment before the doors pulled open. A wizened looking man with gray hair and a dirty lab coat grabbed them both and dragged them inside.

“Come in! Come in! You’re making a racket” said the man as he led them through a hallway to another door. While the previous steel doors closed with a small bang the man fiddled with a set of electronic keycards on his hip. He frantically tried a couple before he paused and stared back at them. “You have it of course?” he said to Julian who held up the prosthetic in the bag.

Aden wanted to say something there but he decided against it. Forgetful doctor. Not a great first impression thought Aden

Satisfied, the man tried another set of keycards and got the door opened at last. He ushered them inside before looking over his should as if some monster was in hot pursuit.

Aden was a bit surprised by the lab. He had expected some burnt out ruin like the buildings outside but this was different. It was clean and modern. Silver metallic walls polished to untold levels shine. Floors of bright white linoleum. Bright white lights which shone on the instruments and devices that were strewn across the counters . In the middle of the room was a bed with clean white sheets and a tarp covering it. Someone must have funded this Aden thought. Labs like this don’t just pop up in the middle of ruins.

“Sit sit.” Said the man in the lab coat. He had already begun cleaning and prepping his tools. Time was of the utmost importance, they were thieves after all and it would only be so long before KhazorCorp locked down the entire area to search for them.

“Didn’t catch your name there” said Julian taking off his coat and grabbing a chair on the far side of the room.

“No names” said the man in the lab coat. “Fewer problems that way. We meet and go our separate ways. Our friend in Echo Station can tell you mine later if you really want to know.”

“Suit yourself. But my name is Julian. Remember that should anything happen to the kid there” said Julian crossing his arms.

The man in the lab coat snorted. “Soldiers…” he muttered and motioned for Aden to the middle of the room. Aden threw his own coat onto a chair and laid down on the bed. At once the man began attach sensors to his temples and arms. While he was preparing some kind of saline solution Julian walked over to Aden.

“Listen. Lets hold the guardian act until after I’m drugged and can’t take care of myself” said Aden. Julian laughed at him and gave him another shrug.

“Naw. Thats the cover my ass act. Something happens to you and now I’m on the hook for theft without anyone to cover for me” said Julian. This time Aden laughed. Again, damn shame the Beryons had to stir up trouble.

“Vitals look good. Will start procedure now. You will feel a little pinch” said the man as we injected Aden with the solution. All at once everything became a swirl. He could hear voices but they were drifting further and further from him.

“Don’t worry.” Said a voice. “You’ll be on a ship to your new life before you know it. Promise”.

Aden didn’t even have enough time to reply before he blacked out.