My eyes opened, albeit slowly. the tv was at the game menu, playing the theme as always, yet I mostly heard faint breathing from the other two still sleeping
"Uggghh" I moved my right hand over my face as I groaned. I could tell the sun was rising, yet I wanted to keep sleeping, I brought this upon myseeeelf. I was very clearly bothered by my past self from a few hours ago.
"mh...mhhh, morning" Sam was the next to wake up, looking dull and her hair being fuzzy.
"Mornin" As I sat up, I felt something in my hand, when I looked in it, I saw the coin which was surrounded by a faint glow. That's not normal...at all...I pocketed the coin and stood up, it took a bit to balance, my legs were somewhat numb, and that tingling feeling hurt as always. "Let's geeeet reaaady" I stretched.
"Yup yup!" After a while she stood as well. My HUD opened, I assume hers did too.
'We're gonna start the mission briefing soon'
-Raymond
'Any location?'
-Nicholai
'Your base has a command center, we'll be using
that'
-Raymond
'I take it, it's the room across the hall?
-Lee
'Correct, the password is preset as 0000, Lee, you can change it
In your HUD if you want. Be there soon
-Raymond
"Welp, guess we better get to it" Sam already began walking to the only door we haven't gone to, I gently tapped Kaz to wake her up...it did not do anything at all. "Alright then..." I picked Kaz up and walked to the door.
"You two are here already?" Kenneth leaned on the wall next to the door once he got here.
"They probably didn't listen when I said not to stay up too late." The air around Nicholai felt threatening.
"Guilty~" Sam knocked on her head once. I inputted 0000 on the keypad by the door, it took a while...an annoying amount of awhile, before the doors opened. It was a massive empty(Mostly) room, there was a wall that had some screens, yet some were missing, then on the ground, there were some consoles and desks with computers...yet once again, some of them were missing.
"Sorry for the lack of some things, we have to supply a lot more bases this time around." Raymond stood at one of the consoles, tapping away.
"It's alright" The four of us continued to look around, I had also noticed a table in the center of the room, it had a weird look at the top, like the table-top wasn't real.
"Shall we get started then?" Raymond tapped one more thing, the top of the table I had looked at before turned blue instead of the fake looking top it had at first. After a small hum, a hologram appeared based on the area I could only assume we were going to. Kaz moved around in my arms before waking up. "You five are going after a hard drive, now, I wouldn't suggest all of you go for it, if all of you came to the party, then people never saw you again, then you'll raise suspicion." The hologram zoomed in onto the third floor of the building. "Those who are going for the hard drive need to head to the third floor into this room" When he pointed at the room he was referring to, it turned red. "A desk will be by the window, the PC at that desk has the hard drive we need."
"Kenneth is a definite go to for getting the drive" I looked more at the hologram.
"If it's a hard drive that's important, then there may be many to throw us off, and if the PC is locked, we can't really check, so yeah, I'll be one of the people going for the hard drive"
"Then Nicholai should go with, as the person going for the drive is at most risk of getting hurt" I tried to envision the possible outcomes, if we were figured out, if they couldn't get in somewhere.
"Ah, I get it, you're the leader, and Sam is the most friendly one" Nicholai had understood what i was doing. "I won't deny, I was thinking you did this so you and Sam didn't have to do much"
"It may seem that way but no, if they ask where you two are we have to come up with something convincing, not only that, but we have to keep their minds off of you two while you get the drive" Raymond let us talk, he had a proud expression. "Our job is deception, your job is stealing, simple as that."
"What do I do?" Kaz climbed up to my shoulder.
"Kaz, you'll act in the middle, anything we need to know you'll tell us, Nicholai and Kenneth are in trouble? You let us know, if we get found out, you let them know"
"Alwighty!"
"Seems you all got a plan already" Raymond got away from the console.
"Not even close" I smiled. "We don't know how we'll get them in, and we don't know what alibi we'll give the two...we have to dress formally as well" There was a pause while I inspected the full view of the area. "I think I got it"
"Fire away leader" Nicholai sounded dull.
"There are some vines on the wall here, it leads to the second floor, and if the window is open as the hologram shows, then you can skip the first story."
"And if it's not?" Nicholai, along with the others, looked around the hologram.
"Kenneth should be able to lockpick the door"
"Fair enough, and the alibi?" Kenneth turned his head to me.
"I got it handled If it's me being asked first, then I'll mention how Nicholai and Kenneth saw how bothered I was about being around so many people, it's technically not a lie...and that they went to get me something, and Sam just says that for me if she's asked first"
"That's obvious" Nicholai was in thought "Can't think of anything else...I think we're good to go"
"Agreed" We all turned to Raymond.
"Well, if you're all ready" Raymond summoned a knife, he raised it into the air before slashing downwards, a portal soon appeared, as though by cutting the air, he cut a portal from it. "This should lead you to just outside...ah, also you can probably use your HUD to make an outfit preset, so just make it, and with a snap you'll be in that outfit before a millisecond can even pass." We all nodded "Take care you five" We all took a step into the portal but not before snapping. Using the portal was sickening, like I was gonna throw up.
When we made it through the portal and ended up where we should be, the feeling of illness passed, I was wearing a white suit to fit with my hair, Sam wore a sparkly dress, and Nicholai and Kenneth wore the same colored suit.
"How can you wear that?" Nicholai looked at Sam.
"Why couldn't I? It's pretty"
"Thinking on it...actually...nevermind, if you two left now, it would be odd when others see us all together." I extended my arm. "Get going Kaz, we'll meet back here after the others get the drive." Kaz with determination went off, and before long, I had lost track of her.
"Let's get to 'attending' the party" Kenneth grabbed the collar of his suit and moved it a bit. We all began walking through the forest path, before a mansion came into view.
"State your names, if you would" A person at the front gate held a notepad.
"Lee, Sam, Kenneth, and Nicholai" The person looked down at the notepad, flipped through it a few times and checked off four things.
"You're here" They did a short bow "Enjoy today, the fireworks start in just a few hours." The gate opened, and we all walked inside. There was a massive pool to the far left, many tables with over a hundred different kind of foods on them, and a massive crowd of people all over the place.
"We'll get to it" Kenneth patted me on the shoulder before the two left. I looked past the crowd and noticed some games...the kind you'd play at a festival.
"Thinking of taking their entire stock?" I didn't have to look at Sam to know she was staring towards the prizes.
"One hundred percent, come on!" Sam led the way through the crowd, her eyes set on the prize ahead...literally. I stood beside the booth.
"Care to try your aim Miss?" It was a 'shooting gallery', use a toy rifle, hit the pins in a way it knocks them all over, win a prize, at festivals or amusement parks, they're always rigged, wonder what the case would be here.
"Yes please!" There was no need to pay...I assume their costs were already covered. Sam was given the toy rifle, she aimed at the left stack, sorta, forcing the attendant to move out of the way, Sam began tapping the side of the rifle, causing it to move, ever so slightly. Her aim was towards the bottom right of the top-most pin. She took a breath and fired, whatever was in it, hit the top pin in a way that made it sink down, colliding with the other two, the ammunition then ricocheted to the other stack, yet, it grazed it instead. "Damnit!" Sam looked disappointed, placing the rifle on the table.
"No need to be disappointed ma'am, you still knocked o-one down" their voice stuttered slightly. Thinking on it, where did it go? I leaned slightly over the table and saw what the rifle fired right beside the attendant's leg.
"Tsss" It was quiet enough that no one heard me, and I couldn't really tell if it hit them or not.
"I'll take the sheep" The attendant grabbed a hook and brought down the sheep plush, it was almost the size of Sam. "It's so cuuute~" She hugged the plush while smiling, I couldn't help but smile a bit too. The music playing switched, to something more upbeat, the transition was something to be proud of. I looked up at the mansion, it was hard to see, but by looking through one of the second floor windows, I could just barely see a window around the corner being open, the one Nicholai and Kenneth are in. Things are going accordingly so far...wait. I had come to realize we never made an exit plan. They'll come up with something, it shouldn't be too hard...I never got to finish my food...I looked towards the food tables, and it seems Sam was looking towards it as well. We took a few steps before someone grabbed my shoulder.
"I don't think I know you...what building were you in?"
"Do you..."I was coming up with something. "Mind repeating the question?" The second I finished speaking, I quickly sent a message to Raymond
'You didn't tell us who these kids were with!'
-Lee
'They're kids from some private school, A building, go with that'
-Raymond
"What building are you a part of?"
"A building" The guy looked shocked at me.
"My apologies then, no wonder why I've never met you" He bowed at me before walking off
"That was weird" Sam looked at the guy "Why'd you go with A building?"
"Raymond"
"Oh..." We had made it to the tables with food, someone had left behind a handheld fan, it was brightly colored, and had a shine to it. I grabbed it and looked at it more, no one seemed to care, so with that, I took it. "I'll be helping myself!" Sam grabbed a plate and began grabbing a variety of food. I on the other hand, didn't take much, only the things that looked appealing to me.
"Ah, you two certainly look like A building students" An adult came up to us, he wore a black suit, his hair was shiny, and he held a glass, all of it made him look sophisticated.
"How so?" I ate another forkful of whatever I had.
"Most tend to have...defining traits, colored hair, visible scars, makes me wonder what you two specialize in."
"Humane studies!" Sam blurted out an answer, yet it was the most sensible one.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"I" A building students have scars...meaning... "I study swordsmanship"
"Ah, hehe, no offense, but you both seem the types to study those, you have a more stern expression" The man looked at me.
"Now now, leave the children be" A woman then came by "It's a party for a reason, don't bore them with school"
"My mistake, my curiosity got the better of me." The man did a short bow "Take care you two." I took a sharp breath once they left. My HUD appeared, but not visible to others, considering Sam jumped slightly, I took it, it meant hers did too.
'We got it, we had to knock out a guy though'
-Nicholai
'They'll live. Return the same way you got there
-Lee
'Roger that'
-Kenneth
"Let's get going" Sam nodded and we both began the walk back.
"Hey, where are you two going? You're gonna miss the best part of today" A guy around our age walked up to us, considering he looked the most fancy, I took it that he was the person who was hosting.
"Ah, Me and my friend here have something important to attend to"
"You and the Miss can surely at least attend a dance, no?"
"I don't think she's one fowhuh?" While in the middle of talking, I looked to my side at Sam, she was already looking at me with the brightest glint in her eyes, if they were an actual light source I'd be blinded.
"Come on, at least for a little bit" Sam didn't sound like she was asking, more so compromising. I felt split, like two different people within me, wanted two different things. Kenneth and Nicholai would have to wait more, they'd be more at risk. Then again...I owe Sam this for not going to that last year, that, and it could blow our cover if we don't stay.
'Hey, new info'
-Nicholai
'Parently, days don't last long in this world, so it'll be night soon
-Nicholai
If we do, do the dance, we could leave at night and be undercover of it, but we may lose our way...we don't exactly have an exact evac point.
"Mister Lee?" The guy reminded me that I don't exactly have forever to decide. I let out a breath.
"No, it's important that we leave now" Sam looked disappointed, while the guy looked displeased
"If it's really that important, then I have no right to stop ya" He left, and we continued our way to the exit.
"Sorr-
"I get it, no need to apologize"
"If a dance comes up that's not related to a mission, I'll go, alright?" Sam went back so smiling.
"I'll hold you to that" We exited the place and began walking through the forest path.
"Hey! The drive is missing!" Their yelling could be heard even with the distance we had on them.
"Eheh...guess, it was a good idea not to" She looked at me with a guilty expression, scratching the back of her neck.
"It's them!" A loud bang rang through the forest, and my ear felt pain as something cut the side of it.
"Probably shoulda got off the path!" I grabbed Sam's arm without warning and ran into the forest. Behind us, I could hear leaves crunching and twigs snapping, I did a sharp turn and hid behind a tree with Sam beside me. I quietly snapped and changed back into my previous attire, Sam did the same.
"Just give the drive back!" A deep voice yelled out to us. I summoned my sword, and Sam summoned the sickle half of her two weapons. The crunching of leaves got closer, I primed a swing, gripping tightly onto the hilt. Another loud bang echoed through the forest, I was ready to wince in pain, thinking they shot through our tree, but the pain never came. I opened my eyes when a gentler thud hit the ground, curiosity got to me, and I peeked around the corner. The man who I assumed was chasing us was dead on the floor, a bullet had passed through him. I turned to ask Sam if she did it, but instead she looked stunned.
"It...wasn't me..."
"It was me!" After rustling from the trees, a familiar feline friend dropped down, this time, with a small sniper rifle fitted to their size.
"Why is it that every time you show up, you make me question more things?" Kaz didn't respond, as Kenneth and Nicholai regrouped with us.
'Raymond, we're waiting'
-Lee
Like a trigger, a portal was cut open, without even letting anyone out, we all leapt in. We poured through the portal, each of us toppling to the floor.
"...H...i?" Raymond looked down at all of us.
"Hey" Nicholai, with no difference in her voice, responded back to him.
"Where's the drive?" We all stood up, Kenneth summoned the drive and handed it to Raymond. "Good job, mostly" In the corner of my sight I saw Kaz leaping up to Sam's shoulder.
"So what's on it anyways?" The portal beside me closed.
"Two things, info about that organization back on your earth, The Lillies if I recall, and then, info about the Reunion, the hostile military opposing us."
"Those two seem unrelated" Nicholai put her hands in her pockets.
"For the most part they are, they have very little ties with each other, hence why we easily found out about this drive, two unrelated groups, somehow connecting to one person...well...the person doesn't matter, we're just here for the information."
"What happens now?" Sam tilted slightly.
"You'll get your payment soon, if you mean about the war, it's at a standstill for the time being, corruptors have been getting more aggressive."
"At a standstill because of a common enemy"
"Correct, Lee. It's still early, there's probably something to do...actually, I do have something for Kenneth and Lee"
"Oh?" Kenneth, being mentioned, actually started paying mind to what was being said.
"A component for the Teth got stuck in a tundra world, blizzards and all"
"The Teth?"
"A massive ship capable of holding all 500 million DTs in Eaxura and with room to spare. However, it's mostly used for missions the Guardians went on."
"A ship that can hold 500 million people? Where are you even holding this thing?" Kenneth sounded concerned.
"This dimension is pretty big, the Teth is in its own area separate from Eaxura."
"So why not just send Kenneth?" I asked aloud.
"Because, I can't guarantee it's fully safe, another thing, we can also use it to boost Dave's processing power, he'll be able to learn at the rate we can instead of slowly."
"And that's why you wanted me to go" Kenneth paused for a second
"So you're sending them alone?" Nicholai asked in a stern tone.
"The less the better, you'll get noticed less then"
"So the main risk is other people like us" I looked around, it was our base alright.
"We're thinking that, yes"
"Love the confidence" I spoke while letting a breath out. "Ken?"
"We can go, I'm not tired"
"Sam, Nicholai, you mind finding something to do?"
"Not at all" Nicholai answered for the both of them. "Stay safe you two"
"We can depart now, I'll be watching the situation as we have an uplink there" Raymond cut open a portal.
"Me and you pal" Kenneth patted me on the back before we went in. The second we entered we realized many things, it was dark, there was an endless blizzard, and-
"Ffffuu..ngh, it's so goddamn cold!" I instantly started shivering. I snapped, hoping that there was some winter gear that was considered mine, I heard Kenneth snap too. Once more, my outfit changed, I had a white winter jacket and heavy pants, gloves, and a heavy scarf. Even with it all I still felt cold, only now it was a bit less. Kenneth had on a heavy duty jacket, with goggles over his eyes, he had the same gloves I did, along with a beanie and scarf. "w-w-w-why d-d- you get more stuff t-t-than I do?" I began rubbing my arms in hope to make things warmer.
TTS Active.
"Isn't that?"
Raymond: Yello?
It was like the calls, only this time, we had a box showing what they said
"You never told us how cold it is!" I shouted over the loud shifting snow.
Raymond: Hello!?
"Try acting like it's the call thing" I could barely hear Kenneth
Lee: Raymond?
Raymond: There we go! How is it going?
Lee: How is it goin- It's negative a million degrees over here!
Raymond: You're telling me you never been in the cold
Lee: Clearly neither have you!
Raymond: Just keep going straight, you should find the base, it looks similar to those moon bases you see in sci-fi, those half-circle hallways with a door at the end...like a dome...
Lee: Is that all?
Raymond: Yeah, can't do much else but be here if you need me
Lee: Fantastic
Raymond: Take care
TTS Deactive
"Take care? Fuck off"
"Relax Lee, acting that way won't help." We were forced to trudge through the snow, and go past the oncoming blizzard. "I wonder why this place is stuck in snow!" Kenneth continued yelling past the blizzard.
"Could be some magic issue!" Though very faint, I could hear something crack and break after some resistance. "Ken!"
"I heard" He summoned his spear. It was faint, but in the distance we saw the base...hopefully it was the base. it was impossible to tell at that point. We began to hear snow rustling around to the left side of us. "Don't think we c-" Before Kenneth could finish speaking whatever was to the left of us let out a harrowing howl before the rustling of snow got louder, and began approaching.
"Run to the base!" The two of us broke into a sprint, but with the snow, it turned into a jog, it wasn't possible at all to run. I saw the door to the base was open and began to think...that guy, he warped after he threw his weapon away, maybe... I gripped onto my sword, reeled my arm back, and threw forward, my sword flew through the air going through the door, it landed on the ground...nothing, I tried doing anything, but before anything could happen, something sharp gripped onto my arm and pulled me down.
"Lee!" My arm began to shake vigorously, I looked at it and saw some beast biting into my right arm. I resummoned my sword and impaled the beast, its bite grew stronger till it let go, I got up and went back for the base, I could hear the creature staggering about before it began going after me again, I heard a quick 'fweh' cut through the air, it was an arrow that pierced the beast. I looked back at the base and saw Kenneth there with his bow. "Come on!" I gave it my all to be as fast as I could. The second I got into the base I dropped to the ground holding my arm.
"Goddamnit!" I clenched both hands.
"You really have some bad luck" Kenneth looked around, after seeing something he ran off, coming back a few minutes later. "It's pretty old, but better than nothing." He placed an old F.A.K and opened it. "uh...Nicholai taught you a bit right?"
"Enough" He slid the First aid kit to me before resummoning his bow and aiming towards the door.
"I'll cover" I began to clean up my arm, the cold made it all numb. After that, I looked at the bite to check it, it was normal...no purple marks...although my blood was still barely tainted by purple. There were three gaps, holes caused by whatever bit me, three gaps that had blood pooling out. I grabbed gauze after seeing no bandages and began wrapping, it wouldn't stay in place once I was done. I checked the FAK again, after almost toppling it over, I grabbed a very small ring of tape and taped up the spots that wouldn't stay. "You good to go?" Kenneth looked down at me.
"Good enough to move" I got my sword and used it to help me up. "This doesn't seem worth it"
"Not at all" After we came to the conclusion it wasn't getting inside, Kenneth turned his bow back to a spear and slung it onto his back. The base was cluttered with technology, most being destroyed, and anything still working, is on the brink of doing the opposite. "Is Raymond sure this thing still even works? Though...I guess if they know where it is, there's still a signal"
"Probably"
"So helpful"
"Heh" We searched every single cabinet, locked or not, we broke into them, every drawer, every room, all of them looked similar to each other, a state of disrepair, like something blew up in here.
"Place is a damn wasteland, we don't even know what it looks like, or the signal..." Kenneth began to leave things open so we'd recall where we've been. When Kenneth opened a drawer I could've sworn I saw something shift under it.
"Hang on!"
"hm?" He stopped moving the drawer, I walked over and crouched down, feeling around under the drawer, I tapped around a lot, not being able to find anything, until I grazed a handle, I grabbed and pulled it, causing a shelf to our right to shift and open.
"There we go" I stood up, greeted by a fist beside me, I fistbumped Kenneth...though it sorta hurt my hand with how hard he did it... "Let's move"
"Alright Mr Leader" We headed to the room behind the shelf, in the room, we saw everything in perfect condition, and at the center of the entire room, on its own away from everything, a weird device, emanating a powerful feeling. I went to reach it, but was knocked off balance as the entire base shook intensely. I stabbed my sword into the ground and began leaning , with a deep pit below me I lifted one leg. Something grabbed the back of my collar before pulling me back.
"I almost had it!"
"And it isn't worth diving into a pit!" The base shook more.
TTS Active
Raymond: Something is happening to the base, are you two alright?
Lee: Hell no! The thing is shaking!
Raymond: Alright, listen, we can't warp directly to the base, but we have a spot the closest we can be, it's where you two came from, just leave the base and go straight.
TTS Deactive
"Just great" Kenneth mumbled. We both rushed back to the entrance.
"We open and run, nothing else, unless one of us need help"
"Alright, on you" We both grabbed the door and began pulling it open, the cold rushed in, but there was no time to think about that. We ran back into the intense blizzard, not caring whether or not our legs were burning. The base behind us creaked even more, along with the crunching of snow, by the creatures rushing at us. My sword came out of the sheath and struck at the floor, causing a fire wall to cover us, it soon returned to me after.
"Thanks little buddy!" The sword hopped slightly to represent understanding. A portal opened, showing the base, we both leapt in, sliding to the floor. We heard something growl behind us, when I turned to look, the portal closed and cut the head of the creature off with it, rolling along the floor. Along with it, I heard the clattering of something metallic.
"Are you alright?" As always, the pink-haired support made her way to me.
"I'll manage." I felt my arm.
"What's with the tape?" Nicholai crouched down in front of both of us.
"The bandage around the gauze wasn't there...it didn't stick..."
"Mh...I guess it's okay with what you had."
"Where's the device" Raymond looked at the both of us.
"Didn't get it, as you know the entire base started shaking" I gritted my teeth as Nicholai felt around the bite. "And you especially didn't mention a bunch of damn monsters." I looked over to the head and where the metallic noise was. The creature was of course, not human at all, its features were disgusting with teeth that would've stabbed themselves if it grew any longer. Before I could see more of it, the head faded away like it dissolved. I quickly took out my journal and drew it.
"Well, I guess you two can't be blamed neither can we, what happened was unexpected, especially the creature." Nicholai then went over to where the head was, picking up what looked like a flash drive.
"Dave" He flew over to Nicholai, she put the flash drive in. After a moment, a video...mostly an audio recording, began playing.
"Unit K-01-EX, your mission is set, the newcomer to the DTs, the kid." A noise happened, before a very hard to see hologram showed up "Make sure-" Soon the hologram cleared, showing someone we all knew...
"That Lee doesn't make it through winter"