Rick, Nelo, and Tanner made there way to the drain entrance. Wading slowly, they weren't exactly happy to be going out on patrol. Shade had called them into his headquarters only two hours earlier and told them to get moving. They weren't scheduled to patrol for another two days but Shade insisted he needed a team to check out some unusual Overlord activity. Tanner suddenly let out a sigh as they hoisted themselves up into the drain entrance.
"This is shit." he said plainly, "It was my turn in the lottery! Damn that Shade." The other team members knelt down and began checking their gear.
"Quit your whining. Without Shade we would be nothing." said Nelo quietly as he scanned over a map. Rick stood up and peered down the drain. How many missions have began here, he thought. Nelo and Tanner stood up behind him. Nelo held out the map. Rick took it and quickly looked over it before folding it and tucking it away.
"Okay, let's first get to the Main Junction. We'll decide which way to go from there. Which ever water level is more preferable." Nelo and Tanner nodded and the trio started walking. Hours were spent walking through these sewers. It's where Rick got a lot of his thinking done. Today he was thinking about his team. Tanner and him had been friends from the Dorms and had escaped together. After that they ran into Nelo, also an escapee. They were on the run for a week before one of Shade's group found them. Why am I thinking about this? Rick asked to himself. He made a point not to think about the past. He liked to look forward.
Tanner had started to complain about his feet hurting so Rick called a break. There were plenty of dry nooks along the drain where they could sit. They all sat down and then looked to one another. After a few moments of them glancing at each other they suddenly all burst out laughing.
"I was wondering when this solemn mood would end." laughed Nelo
"Yea," said Tanner, "we thought you had gone mute."
"Sorry to keep you guys waiting." Rick jumped onto his feet followed by Tanner and Nelo, "Let's go kick some ass."
Rick, Tanner, and Nelo all run down the drain as fast as their gear would let them. This is more like it, thought Rick. Running towards the future, this is the feeling that makes our missions go so well. The other teams were always so serious. How could you succeed when you weren't happy and optimistic? He smiled. He was proud of his friends and they were proud of him.
They all skidded to a halt as they reached the Main Junction. They decided to take South Drain Five and then get out at manhole fifty. It was just wet enough to keep Ferrets away but not soak them.
They had only been running a few minutes when they heard it. A low, rumbling sound coming from behind them. Great, thought Rick. Just when this mission was beginning to get fun. Tanner turned around and assessed the wave of water. He nodded and turned away from it again. Nelo bent his knees and prepared himself. I may have the best team but they are also the craziest, thought Rick. He sighed and stepped back into the same position as Tanner and Nelo.