Chapter Two
A New Ally…
"I am sorry sir but as you know I am only allowed to disclose that information to government officials or high ranking hunters." She looks over my attire and then with an air of higher importance says, "You appear to be neither." Her attitude takes a 180 right after that last remark and says in a fake sing song voice. "Welcome to the Hunter's Guild there is one new quest available would you like to take it?" I look at wondering why she is so arrogant, and then I ask her what it is. She replies,
"Your job will be to retrieve research data on Serena Legenda's research from Pioneer 1, further more-" My ears perk up suddenly, I look at the receptionist puzzled, no it cant be she didn't do research for a government project she was just a scientist sent to keep watch over Pioneer 1. I look at the receptionist, her fake smile still plastered on her face. I ask, "Could you please read the name of the researcher again?" She does and this time I am sure my hearing is fine… What did my sister really do aboard Pioneer 1…?
I brood upon this for a moment contemplating what she could have been doing for the government. I say I will take the quest. The recipient looks upon me with weary eyes, while checking over my hunter's license. She Okays me and as I am heading for the door she says one last thing to me as if too spite. "Just one more thing you will have a partner for this quest she is all ready planet side and will meet you there." Great I think … I exit the hunters guild turn right and head towards a large opening in the area. Huge bay doors are located within front of me.
Two officers from Coral's army stand guard. I step towards the door, one steps forward, "Identification sir…" I present him with my Hunters license, also turn for him to see the Hunter's ID upon the center of my chest just below the neck line of my suit. "Hunter Colt, sub class HUmar… You are clear sir, good hunting to you." I nod my head to him and then to his partner, I step in the telepipe and my quest begins… I press my hand against the initiate button. The teleportation begins and I arrive on the surface in a matter of minuets.
On the way down my mind has contemplated many things about my sister's research and also how this new partner of mine is going to be… I soon land on the surface of Ragol. I hear the sounds of a small stream enter my ears as I step off the teleportation pad and look around, my Mag, Rati, has come out of its storage slot automatically, nuzzling my face as a greeting before returning to its spot above my shoulders. I walk forward along the path of the forests of Ragol. Familiar to me, this area is the most explored by the Guild and Hunters alike. The forest was the beginning point of housing residences to be built by Pioneer 1. Many areas have been cleared for it but, no true structures had been erected yet save for a few storage areas…
My mind and legs screech to halt as a girl's scream pierces the quiet serenity of the forest. I quickly run towards the sound and soon find a HUnewearl knocked to the ground by a Hildeterror. The Mammoth beast roars and pounds its fists against its chest in triumph, the creature then begins rear back as well, I see its chest bulging out and a small dark mass begin to form in its mouth, I realize the creature is about to fire its megid attack and if I don't attack fast the HUnewearl won't be of this plane for much longer. Acting on instinct I equip my Demolition Comet and charge the beast. I scream to get its attention; it turns surprised to see another hunter in its presence. I begin an upward slash at the beast activating my weapon. The blades react and elongate sending its tips even further apart then when deactivated, small photonic blades appear on either end of the staff making it appear to be a bludgeon on either end more then a blade.
The smaller blades strike the creatures pelt and sink into the creature's stomach piercing its organs. I rip my weapon from its body leavening a bloody hole in its mid section below the ribs the wound squirts blood everywhere. It turns to me looking as if to attack, then falls to the ground dead with a loud thud. I turn my attention to the HUnewarl who is still on the ground her hands covering her face in a defensive position. I bend down to her level and offer her my hand saying, "Are you all right? She looks upon me with somewhat confused eyes. It seems the creature dazed her a bit with its last attack. She points to my face and her looks is even more curious then before, she also laughs a little at me. I give her a curious look as if to say what's wrong, then I catch a glimpse of myself from the corner of my eye from a nearby stream… I have the beast's blood on my face it must have happened when my weapon was ripped from its body. I chuckle to my self a little and clean my face off in the cold waters of the tiny outlet.
I then turn my attention to the girl in front of me again she appears to be few years younger then me even by HUnewarl standards being there bodies age slower then regular humans at least that's what I have heard. I again offer her my hand she slowly takes it… I then pull her up on her feet. She stands up but then falls forward and I catch her in my arms she seems a bit drained from her encounter… "Great" I say to no one in particular. I gently pick her up in my arms like a small child and look for an area to settle down, night has begun to fall and I don't feel like getting caught down here with out a fire going at the least. I soon find an open area within a small clearing. I slowly place the girl in a sitting position as her head begins to clear.
I look over her a little and laugh, at least the beast hadn't hit her to hard, she will be fine soon enough. A small laugh escapes my mouth. I then go to gather fire wood for the night. Leaving the clearing I trek into a small wooded area nearby, I begin to pick up dried wood off the ground, I also cut down some young saplings I soon have enough and begin to build a fire.
I begin to head back, I hear a sound, I turn around slowly expecting to see the young girl behind me or some creature… I see nothing but trees…. My face forms a frown upon it… "Huh… must have heard things…" I say to no one in particular. I slowly turn again and begin to head back. A cool wind blows against my face a little as I turn from the sound… I shiver momentarily from it and then continue on out of the forested area. I arrive at the clearing again and look around at it this time.
It seems to have been the beginnings of a residential area of Pioneer 1. I check upon the girl and see she has begun to rummage through some of the left over supply boxes left by Pioneer 1.
I place the wood down arranging it in a pyramid. Luckily during my travels I have picked up a few techs along the way and one of them happened to be Foie I use it to light the wood and get the fire going. I sit by the fire now. I think to myself quietly about weather or not this girl I have found is my new partner. The fire crackles as if to signify some sort of resonance with me on the thought. I turn to my supply bag and look to see what I have in there… Sadly I never was one for thinking far ahead of me… I have forgotten food supplies… Thankfully though I did not within my packing, or for that lack of, forget to bring with me a container with which to boil water.
I reach into my small supply bag and pull out a canister, walk towards the small stream, which cuts through the back part of the residential area which was to be built here, collect water from the stream, and put it over the fire using some of the sticks to make a make shift stand and pole. I add more wood to the fire. I curl up my knees to my face and hold them with my arms; my mind wanders. It jumps and maneuvers down the many avenues of memories I have, I again return to the FOmar dressed in dark red robes… His eyes, I don't think I will ever be able to forget them… Blazing red, so full of anticipation for me… As if he knew I would pass the exam with flying colors that day… Both the VR and written Exams… The canister whistles signaling that the water is boiling, coming out of my thoughts I walk over to take it away from the fire. The young HUnewarl stirs a little from her place feeling uncomfortable with the silence; she looks at me and asks. "Who are you?"
I look towards her suddenly, a bit shocked. She wasn't there five seconds ago I think, I realize she must have sat down while I was reminiscing over the FOmar again… I reply, "I am Colt Legenda. And you are?" She looks at me puzzled at first then says "I am Mint and th- thanks for the help back there." She looks away for a second and then asks, "Are you the other hunter who is working the data retrieval quest that the guild put out today?" I look at the stars for a second before answering her and say yes I am. I pour myself and her a cup of boiled water, free of bacteria now. She asks if I have food. I sadly tell her no I don't and how I forgot to grab some before I left for quest. She giggles and offers me some of her food that she has brought.
I thank her and say yes I would like some. She reaches into her own survival pouch and pulls out two rice balls she passes one to me. I thank her and take it. We quietly eat them. My thoughts drifting back to the FOmar time and time again. I try and forget about that, I think about after the results where given to us.
"With outstanding performance in both the VR exam and written test, it gives my great pleasure in conferring this Hunter's License upon you Colt Legenda!" I step forward as my name is called, one of the twenty hunters to receive their Hunter's License this day. I look around me, to my right I see the young HUcaseal was also one of the twenty to get her Hunter's License, I smile at her, she looks at me, waves and smiles back. A HUcast comes forward and presents me with my Hunter's License. He is green in color and walks with a grace of him I could only hope to imitate when I reach his level as a Hunter. He presses my ID, it shines and turns a brighter color then before, he then confers on me an arm gauntlet given to Hunter's once they have passed the exams. He looks to me before moving and speaks to me in a low whisper, his voice a low electric buzz, "Sojorian was right… I expect great things from you young one… Don't disappoint me in the future, haha…"
"..Ey!" "Owww…" I rub my hand against the side of my head; I look to the ground to see what hit me. I pick up the object and examine it in the fire light… It is apparently a rice ball. "Hey what was that for?" I ask her, a small smile curling on my face as I say this. She giggles at this and a smile appears on her face. After the meal I tell her to get some rest and I will take watch for the night. She protest saying she should but I don't allow it. She soon falls asleep, watched over by me and Rati. I sit down by the fire now almost out and add a few more pieces of wood to it. I then curl into a ball up beside a rock that faces the fire and look upon the stars. My mind wanders and crosses paths inside me again. I feel a sudden convulsion run through me… Almost as if something is awakening within me… I shake my head… My thoughts bounce back and forth between what it was my sister did for Pioneer 1 and what the HUcast and FOmar meant that day…