This is my first story, so pardon any mistakes. Constructive Criticism is both accepted and appreciated.
Chapter 1: Weathered beginnings
One glance throughout the ledge was enough for Unit 84 to tell that this apparent group were the first people to be here in a very long time. If anything, they may be the first to be in this entire star system. He knew that aside from the objective he wouldn't find anything of interest, especially being this far in the outer reaches of gem space. After arriving on the planet, he spent the last 4 hours trudging towards his objective.
Only after 4 hours of walking past the barren plateau and the occasional ravine, he finally saw his objective. An abandoned spire placed on a slanted hillside. Upon reaching the ledge, he began a quick look over of his surroundings.
It was a mess.
He counted at least 3 vehicles in total: 2 larger dropships (appearing to be armed) and what appeared to be a one manned hover bike. The latter of which would make the trip back home a lot easier, should he be able to learn the controls. All of these vehicles were surrounded by bodies, to which 84 counted at least 13 in total. It was then he noticed that they seemed to be armed with older variants of his own weapons. Yet, none of them seemed to have stood a chance against whoever they were fighting.
Remembering to follow protocol, he interacted with his visor's interface and activated his movement wave scanner.
Offered as an option, Recovery Units are able to use neural implants in order to interact and use displays in a more quick and efficient matter. Rather than having to look at his electronic wrist pad, the visor within his mask his fed with new forms of information that can be displayed to the wearer. In return they can also give basic instructions to the interface, such as use the communicator, check their objectives and use their sensors.
Movement Wave Scanners, are used to look over 100 metres in front of their field of vision. Through this scanner, they can look through walls and any other objects in their way as well as detect any form of movement. Upon activating this through a visor, users would see blue and white filter of their vision. This has been known to create short term side effects with a user's vision caused from prolonged usage.
Activating the scanner, he did a full sweep of the ledge. Looking through the vehicles and past the entrance, he found no forms of movement life.
Surprising to find this structure in the middle of nowhere, he thought. It made him wonder what gems used to do in these buildings in such a hollow planet. Something he has openly spoken against having to venture to, considering the amount of time and energy it takes for him to reach these locations on foot.
Focusing at the task at hand, he searched amongst the remains looking for his objective. He grunted, unsuccessful in his attempted search.
Just at that moment, it occurred to him that perhaps he should look over the remains once more, to look for any clues. Upon looking at the cluster of vehicles, he noticed something contrasting between the bodies. It was then, he noticed that they all seemed to be focused towards one general direction. And that direction was the entrance towards the structure.
At that moment, Unit 84 drew his phase rifle and steadied it to eye level as he entered. While this was not his preferred weapon, it was practical to use for this mission. His preferred weapons consisting of blaster pistols and bladed weapons would have deemed ineffective to use in this environment.
Fortunately, Recovery Units tend to keep a variety of weapons for multiple roles, so Unit 84 had not found himself entirely defenseless in long range situations.
Venturing further down the entrance, Unit 84 was greeted by a moderate amount of stairs. He then did another sweep with his scanner. No movement. Beginning his descent down the steps, he counted 3 more individuals lying further down. It was safe to say, that this has involved more people than Unit 84 may have predicted.
Upon reaching the last step, he took a look at his surroundings to find that he had entered what appeared to be rather large atrium. Further downwards, housed some sort of large pedestal. Either as a throne or a shrine, he could not determine.
Upon reaching the pedestal, was when he noticed the large abundance of what appeared to be excavation equipment strewn about in the atrium. Portable lights strewn about, along with other digging tools. He also saw numerous metal crates, all of them sealed. Walking up the steps to the platform, he saw many burn marks on the walls, likely caused by the weapons carried by these people. From what he could see, there was really large firefight in this structure.
Upon reaching the middle of the platform, 84 did a final look over across the room. Despite the fact that he had not seen any form of life ever since his arrival, he couldn't help but find it impossible that this structure was entirely abandoned. He did another sweep with his visor scanner throughout the entire atrium one last time. Satisfied that his suspicions were unsound, he finally looked down in front of him, only to find his objective.
He knelt forward, placing his rifle to the side in order to pick up his finding. In his hand laid a smooth, oval-shaped gem. It shone with the mixture of gold and red.
"Come in, Control. This is Recovery Unit 84."
The response was instantaneous. "This is Control. What is your status Unit 84? Have you located Agate?"
"Confirmed, she has been secured."
"And her status?" Control inquired.
Unit 84 glanced downwards to his hand, the gem in his palm. From a quick examination, he didn't seem to find any glaring cracks or missing pieces. "Gem appears entirely intact. No signs of any visible damage."
There was a pause, "Understood. Have you done a full preliminary sweep of the structure?"
"Already done." Despite the lack of need for it, "There's nothing exactly worth noting. Of course other than the dead personnel here." Unit 84 couldn't help but sound a little short in his tone.
Before he could be issued any more pointless protocols to follow, 84 quickly interjected, "I've already wrapped up and tagged the rest of the scene with my Tact-Feed. I've secured transport and I'm returning home."
84 barely had time to return to the ledge, before control's voice interjected, "Negative! You are to relocate to an alternate extraction site and await for further tasking."
You've got to be kidding? Another mission.
Unit 84 was about to give an exasperated response, until he paused upon a realization. Of all the things he took notice from Control's response, was the urgency within her tone. Even during conversations in the direst of situations, Control always spoke under a neutral and calm tone. Which means that something very serious has come up.
"Unit 84, confirm you have received the previous directive." Control demanded, now starting to sound more curt than urgent.
Oh, right. "Confirmed Control, go ahead."
"We have a level 5 emergency activated. Possible involvement of corrupted forms."
The severity and importance of a mission depended on the states of emergency. Ranging from 0 to 8, the highest levels are only reserved for the more experienced Units within any program. Unit 84 usually worked under level 4 and bellow, only once getting a level 5, now about to be twice. In fact, this mission was classified as a level 3.
As much as 84 was grateful for some genuine action between these dull assignments, he couldn't help but be skeptical about this sudden, new directive, "Level 5? Wouldn't that mission be better off reserved for a more experienced unit?" Of all people, why him?
"Negative 84. You are one of the nearest units to the objective area. This mission is extremely crucial and requires the more disciplined units."
Whether Control was flattering him or condescending him, 84 could only guess. Only, he knew that once control makes a decision, she sticks by it.
"You're to be assigned under another extraction vessel. We've already acquired 2 other Recovery Units for this assignment. You will rendezvous with them upon arriving at the extraction point. I've already uploaded the new coordinates to your interface."
84 then pulled out and activated his electronic wrist pad, to view his new objective. Upon unlinking them into his visor's display, he saw a clear view of the direction, distance and estimated time of arrival of the new location.
Under any normal circumstance, 84 would be extremely frustrated to find that his location is 2 hours longer south west that the distance that he took arriving here. Only that said circumstances do not involve acquiring a fully functional hover-bike. Needless to say, he really lucked out. Depending on its performance, he would make it to the objective in little to no time.
Before he launch into his own self-celebration, one question rang in his head: Does the bike even work?
Grabbing his rifle, he returned it to his back as he made a quick jog back to the ledge. Upon arriving, he did a quick examination on the bike and was glad to see no signs of damage occurred to it. Seating himself, he did a quick examination on the controls. Aside from the typical controls of a regular bike, there appeared to be some sort of screen on the bike, most likely to display its stats. Seeing no other button or switch, he simply tried placing his palm on the display.
Lo and behold, the entire bike surged to life, its display lit up, showing many green symbols appearing and disappearing. 84 assumed that it was attempting to boot up after its long period of inactivity. Before he could even attempt to read them, the bike abruptly jolts upwards, hovering about a couple feet off the ground.
After its hurried sequence, it soon lit up a new set of displays. There displayed what appeared to be measures of speed that it would go, which direction it's facing and other sorts of symbols, to what he suspected was to indicate the condition of the vehicle. It also spawned a miniature map at the bottom portion of the display, currently showing an arrow to represent the bike. The fact that the map was blank, could mean that it was intended to be used on previously-visited locations.
Confident that he can fully operate this vehicle, 84 took the handles and turned them downwards to accelerate. Unfortunately, what he did not take into account, was which direction the bike was facing.
In a sudden jolt, the bike sped off the ledge and plummeted off the structure, without any time for him to slam the brakes. 84 Was ready to brace for impact, but was surprised to find the bike's stabilisers cushion the impact on the hillside. Finding that his ride was still functional, he then accelerated again over the hillside. Guess control wouldn't have to worry much about him being late for the extraction.
At the mention of control, 84 suddenly realized that she was still on his communicator. He scrambled to put on a neutral tone, in hopes that she wasn't irritated on waiting for a response.
"Coordinates received, I've begun my departure."
"Understood. They will arrive about 2 hours from now. I've informed them that your distance will greatly delay your arrival." Doesn't sound like she's affected by this delay, which should be a good sign.
"Tell them they don't have to wait long. I'm on my way." Unit 84 transmitted before closing his connection with control, returning his attention to the newly acquired hover-bike.
Within minutes, he could barely see the structure in the horizon. The bike zoomed over the barren landscape in such record time. A quick look at the display, he saw that he was going over 130 miles per hour. And it didn't appear to be half of the speed it could go.
He could feel it all, the feelings from the bikes engine and the wind coursing past him. He loved it.
84 couldn't help but chuckle to himself, his overall mood had begun to improve. This mission might not have turned out so bad after all.
He could express so many things about this ride. The speed, the design or even the overall performance. Except out of all of them, only one thought crossed through his mind.
If control doesn't let me keep this, I'll be pissed.