The Darkened Sanctum

I: "A World of Dust…"

The dust seemed to be the beginning of all life in the depths and the end of all life within. Life sprung from this dust for a thousand years, the cries of newly arrived souls inhaling their first gasps of the substance that would follow them forever. Souls lived surrounded by dust, forever stirred by the motions and movements of these beings, never truly settling, but momentarily resting. It filled their lungs and stole their air as they grew old, slowly turning them into nothing but more dust. In the end, they died in dust, surrounded by dust, turning into more dust, the air thick with the dust they left behind and with the new dust they would create. The dust was a constant, just as was life, thick through the air that challenged their will- life without dust just wasn't a life, for no inch of the Shelter was free of dust. Some places had more, some places had less, but all remained coated, silent, threatening reminders that life was an unending fight.

This world, carved out of the dust, was a darkened sanctum; devoid of light, endless, snaking tunnels led deeper into the dank bowels of the earth. No gardens, no plants; unable to live in the dark, they had been replaced by plastics and fabrics, only a few blessed eyes able to see true green. No wind, no rain; occasional 'showers' came from the ceilings, brought through iron tubes that hugged the walls like rocky vines. Very little colors; only the natural dust and rust, dirt and grime, barely lit by the flickering fixtures, poor excuses for illumination. Somehow through all of this, the spark of life continued to flicker, people inhabiting this burrow for those thousand years with more luck than anything.

But this life seemed to turn itself into another meaningless speck; the leaders of this world had placed a number over every head that walked the dark paths. Numbers tore families apart: a child with a number different from birth parents would be re-organized to another section of the Shelter, sometimes shuffled into a new family, sometimes not. Numbers held back brilliant minds; those in the lowest sectors of the Shelter, despite how bright or special, had no hope of seeing the levels above. These numbers cushioned the blessed, while forcing those without such luck into a bland existence. Personal names were only given to distinguish a person from another, but weren't important to the scheme of life. Those without one had sinned; those who disliked them were ignored. Everything had a number.

It was within this dark, dirty world that yet another number was brought forth, taken from a family and put 'into order' in the LowSector. This child, though labeled as an average 1/8192, seemed to have a gift. As he grew, he had a spirit that seemed to light up every room; greeting even those less-than-liked with a smile, he was an easygoing spirit. He was kind and would help anybody, regardless of a number or appearance, very well liked by those who got to know him. Though he didn't have a family to help him through, he developed such a close-knit group of friends that it didn't seem to ever sway him- he even had a best friend with a number of 1/64! Perhaps this was just life being kind for once to someone just average, nothing too special but luck. Whatever it was, there were few that knew that 1/8192 by his number, but by his short and simple name: Ryu.

These days were the usual ones for him; he was keeping himself busy with his job. He was a third-rank Ranger in charge of patrolling and defending the lower districts, which allowed him to wander a bit, something he seemed to enjoy greatly. In fact, it was very recently that his personality seemed to change a bit. He became quieter, more internal... though he would no longer seek anybody out to speak with them for fun, he would always respond to others calls. Ryu seemed to become more and more distant as time went on, but his fiery soul remained totally intact...

It was just another average day for the sixteen year old; besides the special orders to be received at HQ, nothing too out of the ordinary was happening. Readying himself in the locker room, Ryu was busily gathering his dark hair into a ponytail before a mirror.

The door slid open, a tall, thin figure stepping in. He had his long, skinny saber rested casually over his shoulder, only a few inches away from touching his golden-blonde hair. He had a bit of an arrogant smirk splashed across his face, staring across the room at Ryu.

"Can't you go any faster?"

"Hm?" Ryu glanced over, in the process of digging out a shirt. Through the mirror one could see the back of his neck reflected, a slightly raised, light blue barcode that was rather visible. However, this was nothing much to note since nearly everybody in this area had one. "Oh, Bosch. Sorry."

"What is it she always says, oh," He suddenly grew an airy, mocking tone, "'The early bird gets the worm, boys, and you keep on winding up playing the role of the worm, blah blah blah.'"

Suppressing a bit of a laugh, Ryu responded, "She's only looking out for us."

"Ah, see, even you are laughing! Seriously, hurry up; you don't want to face the terror of the 'Violet Killer Zeno!' Raaargh!" Bosch shrugged jokingly, his smirk still worn, "Worse than a two-thousand pounder genic, eh?"

"Cut it out," Having thrown on his shirt, Ryu was now pulling his jacket, still forced to suppress a laugh or two, "What happens if she's got this place wired?"

"Oh shit," Bosch laughed, "We're both screwed!"

Both wound up laughing a bit as Bosch waltzed out, Ryu finishing up on getting himself ready. After his companion had left he had to admit he was a little upset at Bosch for mocking Zeno, who was their superior, but also an important figure in Ryu's life. Ever since he could remember, she was always there like an older sister, and had taught him pretty much everything he knew. He admired her for being such a strong, head fast woman who was good at everything she did, and secretly aspired to be able to do the same things she did for him to for another person he'd one day meet. Closing the locker, and replacing the lock with a 'click', he stretched a bit as he headed out of the room and into the hallway.

"Hey." A young woman standing off to the side waved casually as Ryu walked past.

"Hey..." He waved back, heading down the hall to a door. There were windows in this hall allowing view outside, a dark, old town barely lit by electric lights fixed on each building and the cavern roof. He only glanced that way for a minute, reaching the door, which opened by itself, stepping in to the main offices. Weaving around desks (and waving hello to several people who greeted him first) Ryu stepped to the back of the room before a door, Bosch standing before that.

"Finally, did you make sure your mascara was thick enough before coming?"

"Hey," Ryu laughed a bit, "I'm not that slow."

"Alright, fine. You ready?"

"'Course."

"Alrighty, in we go!" He opened the door and walked in first, both of the young men falling into position before a desk, saluting. Bosch spoke loudly, announcing, "Bosch 1/64 and Ryu 1/8192 reporting for duty, ma'am!"

"At ease, boys." The woman sitting behind the desk suddenly rose up, adjusting her narrow glasses slightly. This was Zeno, captain of the Rangers that patrolled the area, a noble woman with a brilliant mind and personality. She was easily distinguished by her unusual green, brown, and gold jumpsuit, not to mention her height. She was a hybrid of Demi-human and human genes; her ears were tipped with a fine, gray fur, slightly longer than a normal humans, but they were graceful in appearance. Her blue eyes let a strong soul shine through, a rare sight in this underground world. "Let's simply get down to your mission: you are to guard a cargo freight that will be leaving BioCorp's lower station. Take a lift down to the station and proceed from there. Any questions?"

"Yes, why are we protecting it?" Ryu spoke before Bosch even had time to think of the same question.

"The cargo in itself is top secret, and members of the organization Trinity may have their eyes on it. You are to guard it from attacks or raiding until it reaches its destination. Before you ask," She wore an expression that faintly suggested she knew they were about to, "The cargo does not need to be identified in order to complete your mission, so clear that thought from your minds. Anything else?"

"No, we understand." Bosch glanced at Ryu, and then looked at Zeno, "But ma'am, could I have a minute to speak with you in private?"

"Of course. Ryu, would you step out...?"

"Yes ma'am." He saluted, then turned and left the room, sliding the door shut behind him.

"Now captain," Bosch suddenly dropped all formality, casually leaning against her desk, "This just won't do, assigning me to guard duty. I, with a number of 1/64, could be great... even a regent! All I need are a few outstanding things on my resume... guard duty is nice if you want to be nothing more than some average Ranger, but..."

"Listen, I gave you your orders and you are to complete them. There are some things a person must do before they can go for higher goals. If you can't follow the directions given to you now, you'll never follow them later. You understand why I make you do these things, right?" She had moved to the side of her desk, back to Bosch, staring out the blind-covered windows, "There is a time and place for everything, and right now you have a job to do."

"I understand completely," Bosch suddenly slid next to Zeno and plopped a hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch slightly. Smirking his little face off at her, he laughed, "Just as long as you understand my position."

"Hmph," She suddenly moved away, keeping herself gathered together, "You are dismissed. Do not fail me."

"I won't," He headed for the door, still grinning away, "No worries there."

The sudden crash of a metal cart being overturned echoed through the small room as the young girl was frantically clawing at a lock across a door. Ginger-colored hair draped heavily across her face as she panted deeply, occasionally, with an expression of panic, looking over her shoulder. Hearing the feet coming closer, she swallowed hard and really concentrated on what she was doing- fumbling a bent hairpin in her trembling hands, she worked with extreme speed, trying to pick the lock.

"She's in here, this way!"

"No!" She yelped, working faster at trying to get the lock undone. Eyes growing huge as they came into the room, she suddenly abandoned the task and dove for a vent cover. Forcing her thumbnail into a screw, she tried to twist it out as her pursuers came bounding in, heading straight for her. With a shriek, she was caught by strong arms, now struggling and fighting to get loose as a man in a white coat hurried over.

"Cheryl, you must behave for us or we'll be forced to punish you again!"

"LET ME GO!" She screamed, being restrained by the guard's arms, now being held by another man as well, "LET ME GO!"

"You're just overreacting again," The scientist inserted a needle's syringe into a small bottle, drawing a measured amount of the clear liquid within. He then moved toward the flailing girl, "Time for a little rest, huh?"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" She was suddenly forced down onto a table, completely restrained, wincing as the needle was slid into her shoulder. When it was removed, she resumed kicking, but started to slow down as her vision began to melt into a blurry mess of color. "Let... me..."

"You'll feel better after a nap. Bring her to containment, and make sure she doesn't get out this time!"

"...go..." her eyes snapped shut, all falling into black. This was the third attempt the poor young Cheryl had made at escaping the metal labyrinth she was trapped in, again ending with her back in the arms of her captors. As she was carried off, she rested limply, arms dangling as she was thrown over a shoulder. Perhaps in her drug-induced sleep she would come up with another plan, one that would finally work...

Heavy shoes hit against cement floors, the sound of dripping echoing down the grungy, metal walls. A brown tail swished silently behind her as she continued down the hall, orange hair swaying slightly across her forehead. Her attention was commanded when a ring from a little bell echoed across the hall- looking down, she watched a round, orange mammal skip away, bell-collar ringing gaily, wagging its fluffy tail behind it. Watching it for a moment, the woman then headed through a broken-in gate and stepped into a small room, saluting at the figure behind the desk silently, letting her arm fall shortly after.

"There is a lift leaving from the lower dock near Biocorp labs…" The man in the chair rose, facing away from the woman, "They are carrying top-secret cargo that is proof of the government's dark deeds."

"A retrieval mission?"

"Yes… But I will forewarn you… this cargo… It will look like a child to your eyes."

The woman seemed to be taken back, eyes widening slightly, but she never said a word.

"There is no excuse for failure on this mission. No doubt this freight will be guarded, but it's nothing you couldn't handle. Take one of the Gigantis and use it to your liking, just bring yourself and the cargo back in one piece. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

"You are dismissed, Lin."

She nodded, turning away and heading out of the room. The man let out a soft sigh as he turned his head and saw her walk past outside the window, murmuring to himself.

"Air purification… a madman's dream…"

"Let me drop by town before we leave."

"What, forgot the eyeshadow?"

"Bosch…" Ryu rolled his eyes, splitting from his partner, leaving HQ and heading down a metal staircase. He paused and slowly looked around- the area was dark, a huge shaft in the corner leading up and down into endless darkness. People walked past, kicking up dust as they did, occasionally stopping to talk to one another. Shaking his head, Ryu continued down and across the open area and through another door. Inside this cavern was the Borough, where he and many others lived. The high ceiling was painted a dull, light blue, with cracked white painted in soft swirls. The colors were worn and the pattern cracking, a once-bright representation of the thing called the 'Sky'. Every time he came in, Ryu had to pause and stare up at the unchanging surface, wondering about all those stories he had heard… was there such a thing? Was it nothing but a sweet faerie tale? After gazing, he continued on down the stairs and walked into the center of town. There were tall buildings built into the walls, all living quarters with barely enough room to house the people within. Heading to one-such building, Ryu walked in through the doors and headed across the narrow lobby to a door, heading through and up the stairwell. Three flights up he turned into the hall, stopping at the fourth door. Quickly unlocking it, he stepped into the apartment he had called home for years: a bathroom-sized apartment with the bed built into the wall, which could be pulled down when needed. Stepping over a pile of books and papers, he walked to the narrow dresser and pulled it open, careful not to knock off the knickknacks strewn across its top. He pulled out a small satchel of Zenny, just in case, the small amount the only he had tucked away. He also pulled out a pocket-sized first aid kit and slipped it into a pouch on his belt.

"Huh. I thought I had more in here…" He shut the drawer, then headed back out, locking the door, "At least this should do for now, eh?"

"Now what were you doing, shaving your legs?" Bosch, looking impatient, was waiting for him at the lift station, stewing angrily over something or another, "No matter, I guess, we can't even use the damn lift…"

"Hm?" Ryu walked over, glancing over at the tracks- their ride was parked there, but clearly being worked on, "Needs repairs, eh?"

"Then they tell me, Bosch, 1/64 to walk! I have to fucking walk to the station!"

"Hey, it isn't so bad," Ryu smiled uneasily, shrugging a bit, "I patrol this area a lot- you can get to the station in a really short amount of time. It'll take us only a few minutes…"

"It better be quick, this is unjustifiable!" Gritting his teeth, Bosch started to follow Ryu, complaining loud enough for anybody within fifteen feet to hear, "It's not like I had somewhere to be at a certain time, my no!"

"…" Ryu sighed, rolling his eyes, leading Bosch down the tunnel, "Look on the bright side: You can complain as loud as you want in here and nobody will get you reported."

"True, true… unless mister mascara here becomes a tattletale, eh?"

"Only if Blondie wants him to."

"Nah, Blondie's fine," Bosch was slightly annoyed at the teasing, but laughed a bit anyhow, "There's a bunch of feral Genics down here, right? At least I can stab my frustration away. Poke out an eye, 'Sorry, ma'am, was that yours?'"

"Now I'm half expecting you to whip out the pirate lingo."

"Arrgh, matey! There be no law 'pon the seas!"

Both laughed, though never hearing of seas except in picture books.

"But yeah… quite a few, really, it makes me wonder if they just dump them out here after they go feral," Ryu began looking around as they walked across the train tracks, "I mean, I know it's my job and all but when they assign me to clean this place out…"

"Keeps you busy, yeah, I know," Bosch sighed, "At least its something at your level. Now if they assigned me that, there would be hell raised. A future regent doesn't get assigned projects like that, its just grunt work, you know? Not saying that it's a bad thing, it seems you enjoy it, but me, I prefer… hey, you listening?"

Walking quietly, Ryu looked rather downhearted. He then suddenly looked up, "Oh? Oh, oh yeah… okay… I'm listening…"

"Right, like I was saying- what in the hell?" Bosch suddenly pulled his foot up after hearing a loud squeak. He had placed it atop a small, round, furry creature with antennae, big lips and little bird feet. It scrambled to get upright but was quickly slain as his narrow blade shot through it. "Damn Nuggets… Then of course, where there's one…"

Multiple squeaks emitted through the narrow tunnel.

"There are the rest of them…"

"Uhnn…" Moving a hand to her head, Cheryl slowly sat up, but then hit her head, "Ow! Where am I?"

It was entirely black, no light whatsoever within her little room. Slowly reaching out, she found four sides… it then occurred to her she had been put into one of the metal crates intended for feral genics. Tapping against the metal surface, she judged it was made of iron and rather thick, but had a hollow space between both sides. Digging in her shirt, then, in and around her bosom, she fished for tools, but found out they had all been removed.

"Damn it…" She then ran her fingers through her hair and only found a paperclip, which she had put there in order to pick locks. Taking it up, she then began to drag it across the entire surface of the crate. It would dip in as it stopped over air holes, and soon she found the crack where the lid joined the rest of the crate. Uncurling the clip, she poked it through, but found out in the guard's desperation to keep her contained they had completely welded the top shut; she let out a shriek of frustration. Giving in for the first time in her life, she curled into a ball in her metal containment and began sobbing quietly, hugging her knees.

"Are they… are they all gone?" Bosch panted, leaning against a railing on a little platform leading through a door.

"I think so…" Ryu sank into a seated position, staring at the pile of dead Nuggets before them. Even though they were small, they could be deadly in large numbers since they had a lot of electricity in them. Yes, electric they were, so Ryu and Bosch now had slight burns from bursts of the energy. "Did you see the size of that last one?"

"I refuse to believe they should come in 'Mama' size," He grumbled, "That's just overdoing it a tad."

"I hear they have 'Papa' sizes now."

"Unholy…"

"Well," Ryu got back up on his feet, letting out a puff of air, "It's not too much farther. Hopefully no more run-ins with Nuggets of any size, eh?"

"I'm demanding a pay raise after all of this…" Bosch grudgingly got up and followed behind Ryu as they stepped through the door, "I mean, seriously, how do you keep yourself from going insane doing stuff like this?"

"…Uh…" That was the entirety of the response given. Ryu silently walked through a small door into another tunnel, only halfway listening to Bosch's complaints and ideals. Heading across a track open to a seemingly endless pit below, he glanced down as he stepped, wondering exactly how far down the holes went.

"You might want to watch for the-"

Smack!

"Door. Ryu, what are you, blind?"

"Ow… Hey… These things are suppose to-"

The door opened suddenly like it was suppose to.

"…Open by themselves."

"Heh, Ryu, bested by a door… Damn, I'm really going to have to work hard as a regent to get you a comfortable job."

"Uh… thanks?"

"Oh, don't worry, it's the least I could do for a somewhat cool guy, eh?" Bosch suddenly laughed, pushing Ryu as he got up into the next room, "Just watch out for those vicious doors!"

"Not like you've never run into any, Blondie!"

"Oh yeah? Since when?"

"Since now!" Ryu suddenly caught Bosch by the arm and playfully bumped him against the wall separating the open tracks and the enclosed area, "Look out, it's winning!"

"How dare you steer me into a wall!" In turn, he caught Ryu and suddenly gave him a sharp noogie, "Take that and that!"

"Ow! Ow! Cut it out!"

By the end of this venture, both were laughing their heads off, almost unable to stand since they shook so hard. Happy tears were scattered as they winced in sheer bliss, walking through another door and into a white, laboratory-style hallway.

"Better watch out…" Bosch pointed ahead, still laughing, "There's another challenger!"

Both started howling again as they approached the doorway, Ryu slowly reaching out to it. As soon as his hand touched its solid surface, he froze.

The sound of a heartbeat surrounded his senses.

A great, powerful figure, clothed in scales and claws was pinned to the wall by great rods. The beast was breathing and moving its head, while blood dripped from its torn wings and severed tail, the limb itself still writhing. Gazing upon this creature created the pulse to go faster, much more forceful than before.

I see you.

His vision came close to the sunken face, the skin receding into the dragon's skull. The heartbeat picked up, a ringing kicking in, causing a splitting headache as the great dragon grew a devilish smirk…

Finally, you come!

"Ryu! Ryu, wake up!"