It was early morning as I stepped into the northeast zone, I was greeted with monsters. I killed them quickly and moved on, I had my Energy Control skill on full time until I could find a group from Breakpoint. I didn't want to miss them and then blow by at full speed cutting through monsters with deep royal blue energy blades. There was going to be a time soon when I would show my skills on full. Now was not the time though, so when I felt a group of four people in front of me and a street over, I slowed down and started killing monsters with my knife until I reached what I presumed was a Breakpoint patrol squad. As I closed in on their position, they finished off a trio of raptors and noticed me. I was actually a little impressed I wasn't really making noise or anything that would have alerted them to my presence, they were just observant enough to see me. That's much better than last time at least.
"Halt!" The man I presumed to be their squad leader yelled.
"Hello there, I assume you four are a Breakpoint squad?" I asked them.
"Yes, we are." The leader said with a furrowed brow.
"I was on a trip outside the zone and am now returning." I explained, as I assumed he was confused how I knew he was with Breakpoint considering the direction I'm coming from.
"Ah, I see. What's your name then." The leader asked, skeptical.
"My name is Reaper." I told him.
"Isn't that the name of the city guy who disappeared a few days ago?" Another man asked his leader.
"Hmm, it was yeah. Is that you then?" The leader turned back to me.
"Indeed, it is. I use a knife right. You can take me right to Jax if you still don't believe me." I said showing him my knife.
"I think it's him sir, looks right too." A third man said.
"Alright, we'll take you to Jax." The leader says.
"Thank you." I nod and smile to their whole group.
We begin our journey back through monsterless streets. I could have just arrived at the Breakpoint HQ without an escort, but I figured it'd just be easier to be brought back in and would lead to less questions than magically showing back up without anyone noticing. Considering that, it was a small price to pay in time for less hassle. 20 or so minutes later we arrived at the guard post for Breakpoints HQ. I chuckle to myself as I see Austin up ahead of us, it doesn't take him long to notice our approach.
"Who is th- ... Reaper?" Austin recognizes me after a moment.
"That's me." I confirm.
"I thought you left." Austin says, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"I did! I'm back now though." I explain.
He grumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like 'damnit'.
"What was that?" I ask innocently, but I can't keep the hint of a smirk off my face.
"Nothing. You're free to enter." Austin says with resignation before waving me through.
"Thanks. And thank you guys for the escort." I wave at the squad who brought me in before walking into the HQ.
It's probably already past breakfast by now, but maybe I can catch my companions leaving or find out where they are from someone in the 'mess hall'. When I arrive, I fortunately spot all six of my companions leaving to the north. I'm glad to see they're all alright, I didn't think any of them would succumb to the low tier monsters around here, but there is always the risk of people. I catch up to them shortly and sneak up on Lilly before tapping her on the shoulder.
"What the f- CA ahem, REAPER! You startled me, when did you return?" Lilly spun on me with a curse before realizing who I was.
"I just returned." I tell her as everyone else turns to see what's going on.
"Hey man, welcome back!" Andy is the next to greet me as Lilly practically jumps on me to give me a big hug.
After that the other four are next to welcome me back as Lilly finishes trying to crush me. I just chuckle and return the hug along with the greetings.
"We were about to head out to clear monsters, but we can wait until later for that." Gideon says.
"Nah, don't worry about that, we can talk and kill at the same time." I chuckle.
Everyone agrees and we head out to the east. During the walk I explain to them what I've found, the fact that there are only nine zones and what each of them are. I leave the Canadian town for last, and everyone gasps when I tell them about it. From there I describe what I found there along with the people, and when I get to blacksmith it's actually Andy who is the first to react.
"Holy shit, a blacksmith. That's awesome." He exclaims.
"Yup." I chuckle.
The others were slower to catch on but after Andy started considering the extent of the smith's capabilities out loud everyone understood his usefulness. After a discussion about the smith, it's their turn to tell me what happened while I was gone.
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"We decided to go out as our own squad and hunt monsters along with the Breakpoint squads, since then we've all gained a few levels." Gideon starts.
"Yeah, but it's been so boringggg since the final battle with Kontrix, the only new stuff has been the integration of most of the prisoners and a focused effort on scavenging food while we're out here killing monsters." Sam pouts.
"How terrible, nothing jumping out of the shadows to murder us. What ever will we do for entertainment." Rick says in a deadpan.
After that we all laugh, even Sam joins in after a dirty look sent Rick's way. I'm honestly glad it's been so boring for them, that means I don't have to go on a murder spree for revenge and to make a point. I'm surprised Jax hasn't made any moves at all though, I expected him to make some sort of ultimatum for the six of them to join him or leave. It's a good surprise though, maybe it's because none of us are making any moves towards ruling so he's playing nice for now.
The rest of our time out is filled with comfortable small talk as we kill monsters and hunt for food. Back at the HQ during lunch I bring up a suggestion I thought of while we were out.
"If Breakpoint is looking to find food, maybe you guys should lead an expedition into the city to find food." I propose my idea to them.
"Into the city?" Iyana says with both eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, you guys know how to navigate the city, and if it becomes too late you can make sure everyone stays inside and safe from the Night Stalkers." I explain my reasoning.
"Hmm, that sounds like a good idea." Gideon nods.
"Why do you keep saying 'you guys' when you're back now?" Lilly asks me.
"Well, ahem I actually planned to explore the alien world outside of the zones." I hesitantly tell them of my plans going forward.
"You just got back though?" Andy says, surprised.
"Exactly! Why are you leaving again?" Lilly complains.
"I want to see what's out there, there's an entire world to explore maybe more than one." I try my best to explain, and to be honest everything in the zones is getting a little easy for me.
"Then why don't we come with you." Lilly suggests.
"You guys have a good thing going here, and to be honest I don't know how dangerous it will be out there. Maybe once you have more levels you can come with me." I tell her, trying my best to be gentle about the refusal.
"Are you saying we'll slow you down." Lilly said in an accusatory voice.
"That's not what I said, I just want you guys to get some more levels first." While they would slow me down, I mostly just want them to be stronger before venturing out with me.
"So, we should just stay here while you go out exploring?" Lilly replies with a huff.
"He's seen more than the rest of us, if he thinks we're too low leveled then we probably are." It was Rick who spoke. I can always rely on him to be reasonable.
"Fine." Lilly says though she sounds disappointed and annoyed.
With that discussion done we finish our lunch and go back out for the rest of the day. Several hours later, after we've eaten dinner, I decide I should visit Jax. I want to impress upon him the importance of not fucking with my companions before I leave again, I don't want him getting any ideas while I'm gone because I have no idea when I'll be back. I wait for Jax to finish his dinner and return to his home, once I see him enter, I set up at one of the tables that gives me a good view of his door and wait for darkness to descend. 25 minutes later and it's dark enough for me to move. I walk to an area a few houses down from Jax's that doesn't have guards close and wait until I'm certain no one is looking at me. Then I activate my Void Tainted Cowl and Burst up and over onto a roof. From there I move back towards Jax's house staying on the roof, once I'm on top of his house I drop down in the back using a Burst to halt my downward momentum. Arriving silently on the ground I move to the back door, I try the handle slowly trying not to make any noise, unfortunately it's locked. Not to worry I quickly manifest a shorter version of my Energy Blade and cut between the seem of the door and the frame, half a second later and the door swings inward without a sound.
With my entry to the house secured and my cowl still activated I walk through the house, looking for Jax. A few minutes and three bursts to get up the stairs later, and I find him in some sort of study. Fortunately, the door is open which makes my job significantly easier, I stalk into the room keeping silent. I'm glad he's busying looking at something because if he was looking for me, I think he'd be able to see something moving. I make it behind him without being spotted, now for the show. I pull out my regular knife and slowly bring it to his neck, right before it makes contact with his skin, I deactivate my cowl and lean down.
"Don't move." I say simply, quietly.
Jax freezes going completely tense.
"Relax Jax. If I wanted you dead, you would be." I say in the same quiet tone.
"What do you want?" He asks, relaxing minutely.
"Simple, I want you to know that if I come back to find any of my companions harmed by you or anyone close to you, we'll do this again. Next time, you won't ever know I'm there before it's too late. Do you understand?" I ask as I press the knife further into his neck.
"Yes." He says with clenched teeth, trying not to move his throat lest he get cut.
"Good, that's all. See you later Jax." I say with a light chuckle in my words.
The second I'm done speaking I activate my cowl, take a step back, and then two steps to the side aligning with the doorway. From there I activate Burst nearly instantly arriving outside his office, without stopping for a second I turn and burst towards his banister vaulting over and using another burst to cancel my momentum near the floor, a fourth Burst brings me to the back door. I open the door, step outside, close it, and with a fifth and sixth Bursts I'm on the roof again.
My first thought was Holy shit that was cool, my next thought was I wonder if he saw anything. I was pretty proud of the show I put on for Jax, that would have scared the shit out of me if I didn't know how I did it. I could feel Jax moving to his banister, probably looking for me. After 10 or 15 seconds he went back to his office. Seems like I was successful, though at some point the wind is going to apply enough pressure to the back door for it to swing open. At that point he will know how I got in and out, but it shouldn't reduce the effect too much.
With a wide smile I cross the roofs until I find a clear spot to land on the street, from there I wait until no one is watching and then deactivate my cowl. Just like that I'm in and out of Jax's office, I think it should keep him in line while I'm gone, either way it was fucking fun.
With everything I had planned for the day completed I head for my bed or rather my chair; I had been awake for over 24 hours at this point. I think my Endurance stat was helping me stay awake, but I was tired. When I arrived everyone was still awake, I spent another 15 minutes talking with my companions but then I had to sleep. The next morning, I ate breakfast with everyone in the mess hall, and while we ate, I tried to give them as many tips and tricks as I could, in case I didn't return.
As we finish up our breakfast, I get goodbyes from each of my companions, with hugs from Sam, Iyana, and Lilly, and handshakes from Gideon, Rick, and Andy. I tell them all that I'll be back, then I'm on my way heading north. Passing through the zone is easy as always, and as I finally step foot onto an alien world I take a deep breath, ready to see what this world has in store for me.