Chapter One

So It Begins

Bzzzt, Bzzzt, Bzzzt. God dammed that alarm clock, I think as I reach to turn it off. I look around my living quarter's standard issue for some one aboard Pioneer 2. I look beside me there resting beside where my head laid is my trusted partner, Rati. If you haven't guessed by now I am a hunter, belonging to the Hunter class of hunters and the sub class of HUmars aboard Pioneer 2. I have been a hunter for about a year now I became one when we had almost arrived at Ragol… We were supposed to start a new home there, a new way of life. Although it hasn't happened yet, we are still orbiting the world we could call home but it is just out of our grasp…

I walk towards the window; luckily the ship has rotated so that my window is fortunate enough to see Ragol in all her fake serenity. I place my hand upon the glass, thinking Why, why cant we settle on your soil, why can't we figure out what caused that explosion, and why! Why can't we find any survivors from Pioneer 1 Why! My hand clenches in a fist rises and slams against the reinforced glass window, the window reverberates from the force of my fist upon it. My Mag awakens from its slumber due to the noise; it slowly flutters over to me to takes its place upon both my shoulders. It brushes against my right cheek trying its best to comfort me… I pet it in return, slow gentle strokes remembering why I became a hunter…

I was seventeen at the time I longed to see my older sister, she was a scientist that left on Pioneer 1 to settle a new home for the rest of our world. When we arrived that day… I was ecstatic we were finally going to be landing starting our new life, and I would be one of the first to witness it finally seeing the smile that would be on my older sister's face. Then… The moment that changed all of us forever, the sight of the explosion from the Central Dome, the sudden cease in transmissions from everyone aboard Pioneer 1, everyone… I cringe and turn away from the planet, tears slowly come to eyes. Rati moves to the right side of my head and croons mournfully for me trying to make my tears of despair and anger fade but they can't….

I turn my head back to Ragol, wondering what happened that day… I know the only way for me to find out is to continue taking jobs for the guild and exploring Ragol on my own. I have already explored much of the planet on my own, sometimes with allies, though none have been seen again once the request from the guild was completed… I walk towards the closet containing my hunter's clothes, a standard black Hunters suit, designed by who knows… I like the black but the shorts always made me wonder about the said person's design sense. After taking my grab from the closet I place it upon the bed and walk into the bathroom. Rati waits outside on the bed. I strip of my night ware through it in a laundry basket and enter the shower.

I turn on the water and let it run over me, cold at first I am awakened more and more by it. Soon the water turns warm and my thoughts begin to drift slightly as I begin to clean my body of the grime and dirt from the pervious day, Bartels blood is always a pain to wash off. My mind wanders back to the day of the Hunter's exam.

"All rise!" A man shouts to us all. A huge crowd rises to its feet. "Thank you all for coming today, as you know, this is the test to acquire your Hunter's license. Many of you have come here expecting to receive one. Sadly only a select few will have that opportunity to do so today! Out of the two hundred applicants here, only twenty will receive their license!" "What is he kidding! That's only ten percent of us!" I hear similar conversations off to my right and left as I look around at the other applicants.

Many people line the room of the guild eager to begin the test, I see many other HUmars, Along with many RAmars… All seem more exceeding in their demeanor then I am. "Hey, why the long face?" "Huh?" I look around me, soon noticing a HUcaseal beside. She is shorter then me by a good foot. "Oh, no reasons other then I feel like I don't belong here." "Oh, hehe, that's just nerves don't worry too much." She looks up at me and smiles a little at me. I return the smile and hope I don't face her in the exam.

"You will all be tested in two parts! A written exam to determine your minds ability to think logically and effectively to solve various problems, and in a VR test simulation of the plants life inhabitants from the data which Pioneer 1 has sent us. Let it be noted none of these animals have been deemed a threat or dangerous to us! This is just in case it ever happens, do I make myself clear!" Slow nods and some "yes" flow around the room. "Good, if I call your name that means your will be taking the VR exam first. To pass this you must fight your way to the goal, against the creatures of Ragol, you may or may not team with another applicant during this test. That is up to the individuals; just know you will need to Hunter ID's to activate the end teleporter to end the VR simulation for yourself! Your Hunters ID has been determined by your name and should be on your standard Hunters suit that you were given in preparation for this exam."

I glance down at mine, The ID is light blue, and its design is that of a small circle within a small crescent moon attached to an underling line that branches off in three places. The ID was called a Skyly ID. I turn back to the representative of the Hunters Guild. "I will now beginning reading off the names for the VR exam!"

"Colt, Legenda…." I step forward as my name is called, the first to be called... Ironic really I think. As I step towards the platform, I see the representative conversing with some one, a man dressed in a darkened red robe… He is a FOmar, one who has passed the test. He appears a high level hunter as well. I catch a brief part of the conversation as I step upon the platform, "…Sure he stays alive… Remember…. Must… Pass…" The FOmar begins to leave, his hair in spikes bounces slightly as he turns away. He stops and looks back towards me, his eyes a bright red, the man looks me up and down, he runs his hand through his jet black hair, then says. "Good Luck Colt. Don't disappoint us…" With that he disappears… never do I see him again…

I turn of the water, steam slowly rises from the shower as the hot water fades away, I step out of the shower grab a towel and dry myself off, then wrap myself in a white robe and step out to my bedroom once again. I grab my clothes, discard my robe on to the hook of the bathroom door and put on my black Hunter's gear. After putting on the suit I walk over to my bed side and grab my arm gauntlet that was on the night stand beside my bed. I strap on to my right hand, and rummage through its contents.

I check to see I have all my equipment with me. I look through my inventory and see my Chain Sawd, Demolition Comet and a Raygun are all nicely stored and ready for use. I look through noticing I have a few Dimates and fluids left over from my last mission as well. Satisfied with my I turn off my gauntlet and walk towards the living room of my home. I enter the room check to see if everything is the way it is then whistle. Rati soon joins my and disappears as well as it is stored within the gauntlets data banks and storage. I open the door, take one last look upon my home, sensing as if this is truly the last time I will see it… I shake my head and close the door…

I step out of my home and begin to walk towards the guild. I look around, seeing some of the few civilians with in this district. Hunters mainly reside in the area I am stationed in on Pioneer 2. Some chose to live in more lively areas, I did not care and had no preference… A young child points me out to his mother she looks at me, gives me a forced smile and continues on her way, the child though pulls against her arm and turns and waves to me, a smile upon their young face. I return the smile and wave to them as well.

I make it to the Hunter's Guild I step through the sliding doors and walk up to the counter and wait for the receptionist… She arrives soon, a fake smile upon her face of me being there. She seems to dislike Hunters for some reason. I don't ask instead I walk up to the counter and ask, "Is there any new information received about the Central Dome explosion?" She looks at me turns again to face the window and replies…