Central Australia- Desert Country
Jessie slowed the cycle as she saw a silver tower far to the west. What the hell is that she puzzled. Slowing to a stop she pulled the zipper down on her black and green jacket. The hot desert wind whistled through, a film of sweat starting to bead her brows. Far off the glint of metal glistened and wavered in the desert heat. Dismounting, she searched the large bundles strapped to the rear of the bike. Pulling forth a pair of worn binoculars she trained them on the distant tower.'Damn' She spoke in amazement. In sharp focus Jessie saw the unmistakable tip of a Environmental Maintenance Platform. The symbol of Doom was prominent, the stylized D a spark of change now long lost.
The EMP tip was all that can be seen, the rest hidden in a deep gorge of red and orange stone. How it landed face up was a miracle. Jessie remembered the times they fell on the vidscreen. Many had simply burned to gigantic husks, huge explosions having ripped them apart as they hit the ground in tremendous force. Some had landed and toppled, leaving a mess of metal and plas. People had rushed to salvage what they could before the Corps came in. The rare few which landed intact had been quickly taken over by the Corporations, the promise of technology and profit holding sway.
Swiveling around Jessie saw the dirt track she'd arrive on climb up a slight hill. To the west the land seemed to dip, the deserts sands giving way to the shards and boulders of stone, and further still the broken gorges where the EMP lay. The land was shaped like a bowl the EMP hidden away nicely. The nearest station was near on 150km away and even further the highway some 400ks or so.
Damn! Jessie shouted and smiled. Grinning she chugged some water as she thought. Sitting on the wrinkled leather she thought of the job she had lined up down south. A friend had got her a gig serving bar in Lincoln. Started in three days. Her fingers played with the colourful scarf wound tightly round her neck. Staring off the Horizon seemed to beckon. Standing up she snapped the lid on the water. "Damn it, lets do it Jes!" She said with conviction. what's a day or two anyway she thought and chuckled.
Hopping on she gunned the motor and headed smack dead for the EMP.
Sydney
The students packed forward as they entered the hotel's elevators; Mr Davidson jaw set in annoyance at the behaviour. "Now everyone!" He half shouted "lets behave in an orderly fashion shall we?" A eyebrow shot up as he looked for dissension. Finding none he turned to Ms Heron. "Ms Heron can you take them up while i sort out the arrangements?" Nodding Julie Heron ushered the group silent again. "Students make your way to the 17th floor, peacefully please"
Thomas was stony faced as he saw the others leap about. He waited till most were gone before he took a elevator, holding it open he let the others join him. Ms Heron smiled and thanked him, even patting his hand as she entered. "Thank you Thomas" Thomas just nodded but inside he was prickling at the attention. His hand tingled and his face seemed alive with sensation. Thomas willed himself not to blush. Play it cool he thought.
Climbing up the floors Thomas looked down at the person wedged beside him. A slight asian looking girl she looked him in the eye before looking away to the mish mash of vids playing on the walls. Thomas returned his attention to Ms Heron who was chatting away to some of the others. She was amazing. Mid length curly brown hair, a very cute little nose but mainly Thomas watched her lips. Full and rich, he was mesmerized. Watching her talk and smile Thomas would find himself drifting. At times she had caught him staring and Thomas had looked away hurriedly.
Sometime Later- A small lounge area.
Mr Davidson stood before them a small stack of books in his hands "I know we've been through this before but I will reiterate, you are here as the guests of Yirawa Inc. We are here to listen and learn but.." The mentor pointed his finger warningly "you will at all times act as adults". "Now these booklets will have your itinerary and also a bit of information about Yirawa itself. Many of you may find employment here but it depends on making a good impression" "All right lets proceed" He said as he handed out the information booklets.
Thomas flicked through the itinerary quickly before reading the Yirawa booklet more closely. Hmm he thought as a series of pictures showed patented weapons and gadgets. One showed a soldier of some sort covered in a thin layer of metallic material. Before and after showed pictures of the suit having been tested against flame and energy weapons. Only change was a slight difference in the suits silvery sheen. Wow that's some good stuff.
Thomas glanced around at the other nineteen students. From all over Australia, they had either won this trip or been appointed. Over there the country folk hung out, a mix of station kids or aboriginals. They stood out in their faded clothes. Couple even wore hats. Near him sat the kids from the bigger cites. One guy sipped on a drink as he laid back his headsup gear flashing images beneath the red grill. That asian girl..uh Thomas thought... what's her name again? Nyu! Yeah Nyu was idly flicking the pages of a booklet.
Desert Country
Jessie puffed as she stood at the base of the gorge, the shade so cool and refreshing. Sitting against the cool rock she just sat and stared at the silver tower before her. From her vantage she could see only the bottom half of the EMP. Up close she was surprised at the bulk and jutting aspects of the EMP. At a distance it seemed sleek and ominous. Up close, well it looked exactly what it was, a machine. Taking a sip Jessie gulped gratefully. The EMP stood straight but its landing had not been smooth. From the sand where it rose a couple metres were a buckled twisted mess.
Brushing the sand of her trousers Jessie started to circle the EMP, looking for a way in. Jessie grew disheartened as she passed two whole sides. The bottom was crumpled metal, any openings too high to see. Jessie turned the next corner then crouched instinctively. Rising up the sand were footprints, lots of them. Some booted some not. The sand had built up on this side of the platform. And those prints led straight to a opening. Jessie would of smiled at the adventure but the tracks in the sand had her cautious. Creeping up she entered the EMP. She wasn't really surprised by what she saw. Before her were cases of food and drink scattered about the floor, the contents drained. Vids sat on bare shelves. Someone had at least camped here awhile.
Jessie moved deeper into the twisting halls. Those footprints were not old, Jessie moved quickly but carefully. She crouched again as she spotted blast marks scorched across the doors and wall. She touched the marks. How old were they? EMPs were generally empty of people so this had come after it had landed.
Jessie had no more time to think as pounding footsteps neared her at a run. She moved to dive into a locker of sorts but was too late. A black guy skidded around the corner and knocked her to the ground. Getting up he thrashed out; a clenched fist hitting her squarely in the shoulder. As Jessie held her shoulder the young guy backed against a wall his eyes wild. One of his hands came up and Jessie watched through teary eyes as red swirling energy started to encase his hand. It grew in strength. Jessie feeling the heat on her bare arms and face.
"No Wait!! She shouted.
The guys attention broke as he heard noises from down the way. His hand lowered and wavered the red energy dissipating. Slowly he edged to turn and run.
"Wait god damn it!! Jessie pleaded.
"Please what's happening?" She asked raising to her knees.
The aboriginal man turned backed his eyes losing most of there frightened look.
"Run, fellen goons are chasing me, hurry!! He croaked through a throaty voice.
Jessie got to her feet and felt her dull shoulder. Her eyes flickered as a bright light sent sparks near where she stood.
"Jesus!! She swore as she turned to follow the young guy. But it was too late as more sparks melted the bulkheads and walls around her. "Hold it right there bitch!!" A voice shouted.
Jessie poked her head around the corner, a few metres away two men crouched side by side. Each had LPAN Guns snapped to there shoulders, trained on her position. Ducking back she shouted. "I'm unarmed, i just saw the EMP and came to explore"
Curling metallic smoke tickled her nose causing her to cough. She was surprised when she heard the two men laughing.
"Don't play games Breed we know what you are, come peacefully and you will be treated fairly, and tell your friend he's ours too" The same soldier yelled. Jessie turned to the still hovering man surprised he was still there.
"Who are they?" She mouthed softly. The young guy whispered in turn his voice smoother than before. "Yirawa goons, R and D section" Jessie frowned and looked to the mans now normal hand. Standing straight she looked him square in the eye. "Whatever you do, stay in front of me" She commanded. He nodded his head in turn but edged even further down the corridor.
"Times up Breeds!" One shouted before showers of liquid metal started to pepper Jessie again. "Damn it!" She cursed starting to run. Both Jessie and partner bolted down the corridor, but it was too late. Jessie flinched as a blast whisked by her head and hit the ceiling. Reflectively a smooth blue forcefield materialized around Jessie who winced. The black guy stared in shocked looking from forcefield to Jessie and back again. He smiled then his blazing white teeth dazzling. He sidled closer to Jessie putting himself behind the protective shield. Jessie shot him daggers when he smiled but threw him a shrug when he smiled even bigger.
Sighing she turned around to face the two confused soldiers. Each man had lowered there guns as they took in the blue field of energy. Both mens surprise was short lived as the leader of the two scowled.
"Knew it Breed!" He spat. The other smiled though and looked to his superior. "Double Bonus boss, two for the time of one" Boss man smiled slightly. "Right on, last chance girly, surrender now or we take you back in cold storage" With that he started advancing on the curious pair. Jessie backed slowly away the field shadowing her. She wondered what she could do.
"All right Bob lets do this the hard way!" The elder soldier said. Jessie shuddered as the two men opened fire, the beams splattering across her field. The shimmering field held but each shot jarred her to the core, her joints starting to ache. Backing away slowly to give her new compatriot protection she prayed for the entrance of the EMP. Bolt after bolt slammed into the forcefield. Jessie felt herself getting weary. Looking to her friend she coughed out a few words. "We need to get to the entrance, i can't hold this for too much longer"
The young aboriginal man took a long measured look as he saw the fatigue she felt. Nodding he stopped for a second, crouched upon the floor. Jessie only looked back at the two following men a moment before turning back. Her wearied body even then seemed to strengthen as she caught sight of the young man. Both hands glowed with red pulsing energy, tapering tendrils flicked and pulsed with living fire.
His lips grew taut as he concentrated.
"When we reach that next turn dive right, okay?
Jessie nodded though her mind baulked at the coming effort. She felt so tired.
One....two...three steps Jessie counted off in her head. One...two...how many more. Her body felt so weak, each time a bolt hit her field her body jerked in agony. One...two..There it is. Jump!! Jessie found herself diving. Looking over her shoulder she saw fire hands sending bolts of fire into the two men. Zoong! The firebolts smashed into the soldiers but the two men only staggered and kept coming firing all the while. Running at the two men the black guy launched himself at the men his hands sending deadly twin balls of fire right into there faces. One man let out a blood curdling scream, his hands reaching for his face. The hands themselves melting in the glowing ball of flames. Energy licked his face burning it to nothingness. Within seconds he toppled to the ground lifeless. The other had fallen even quicker much of his head having been literally consumed by the crackling red fire.
Each of them sat there wearied and drawn. After a while Jessie stood up and clasped the young man on the shoulder.
"My names Jessie, what's yours"
"Eddie Warjala" He said as he looked up at her with teary eyes.
