Woohoo! Finally was able to get this third chapter up. I apologize again for my incredibly long delays, but rest assured, they will be lessened soon. With graduation coming up and all that stuff, I am preoccupied, to say the least.
Chapter 3- Recruitment
Sheik stood next to Grey Fox now, them both in front of the teleporter that was to the right of the walkway in the hunter market area. Shortly after the explosion, they had been summoned for a meeting. The summons had actually been received by most hunters on the ship, if not all. Many had already gone to their own meet.
Their's however was different. Only about a few minutes after the explosion on Ragol, Principle Tyrell himself had walked into the Hunter's Guild, looking for specifically them. He was the main person in charge of Pioneer 2. Basically the President of sorts. He had come to personally request a meeting with the two, and wished it to be before all of the other hunters'. Sheik and Grey Fox both had been surprised at this, wondering why he would single them out.
None the less, in front of the teleporter now they stood. It had now been programmed to lead directly to the Principle's office. Grey Fox, being the more impatient of the two stepped into the teleporter and turned around, looking back to him. Despite the fact Grey Fox couldn't really show emotion, Sheik was pretty sure he was giving him a "hurry up" kind of look. Sheik nodded and then stepped into the teleporter, the hum of it coming and then the slight flash, and they were in the Principle's chamber.
The room was quite large, it being a sort of vast open area for the most part, somewhat like a cavern, save nothing organic could be seen but the people in there. The ceiling for the most part was more of a force field window, showing much of the space above them. Down below the walkway was a sort of pit area, where various other machines and pipes were. There was a single walkway that led forward from the teleporter, a few meters out opening up into a circular area. Directly above the circular area was a bright yellow light shining down from what appeared to be some sort of metallic circle, which was spinning around the entire top of the cavern slowly. Various parts of the cavern were illuminated also by small circle lights that seemed to just be in mid air, having no true form. Multiple holo-screens were around the circular area, where three rectangular desks that came up from the ground were. The one to the left had a couple of scientists at it wearing white lab uniforms. The one to the right had a woman. Obviously the secretary of the Principle.
It was the one straight ahead from the path that they were walking to. Behind it was a man about as tall as Sheik, which was actually somewhat tall. About six feet in fact. His black and grey hair was combed neatly back on his head. His robe came down from a large purple turtle-neck. The robe was mostly a green color, save for the purple arm pads on his forearms. The front of the robe had somewhat of a plate of armor, or shield of some sort. It was black, with light blue circles just below his collarbone and another blue square was on his stomach. A purple sash was around his waist, tying the robe to him, which came down around his grey pants, the front being the green color as the rest of it, and the back being purple.
Sheik and Grey Fox walked forward, moving side by side down the narrow path that led to the Principle. Once there they both slightly bowed their heads, the Principle doing the same.
"Greetings, Hunter Grey Fox, and Ranger Sheik. Thank you for coming," He said in a formal tone.
Grey Fox, being more straightforward than Sheik, just came right out and asked the obvious question on both of their minds.
"So then, why is it you came and asked for us personally? We're aware that you sent the request for all hunter's to meet you. But theirs was only by your BEE mail system. So, why did you come ask us in person?"
The principle hesitated, and Sheik had a pretty good feeling that they weren't going to get a full answer to that question.
"Well...the reason is because I've seen your tests in the guild. You showed unbelievable potential and skill within your class tests. To say the least, that might be what we need..."
The holo-screens behind him then turned to the footage of both of their tests, showing how Sheik had gotten 100 accuracy, and how Grey Fox had tossed the tester from the ring without effort. After they finished the screens went back to the way they were.
"You see, there are few who test for hunters and pass from the majority. There are even fewer who display such skill as you both did. So...I would like you two to be the first I ask." the Principle said, hesitating for a minute then continuing. "The military is somewhat preoccupied at the moment for Pioneer 2. We weren't prepared for whatever that explosion was. So, we're sending hunters down to investigate, and I would like you two to go down and see what's going on. Find traces, signs, anything to tell what happened," again he hesitated, "Uh...could you..." he stopped himself in mid sentence and shook his head, "Never mind. Just, talk to Irene, my secretary for details."
Sheik and Grey Fox looked at each other, then both turned to Irene, and moved to her desk. Sheik shot one more glance back at the Principle. He was looking down at the terminals, one arm supporting his other, a hand to his chin. He looked worried somehow. Something was definitely troubling him.
"Greeting Sheik, Grey Fox," she said, snapping Sheik's attention back to her. Sheik finally saw her better now. She was slightly shorter than him, and had about the same color of hair as Sheik, as well as length. Her uniform was mostly a tan color. The sleeves of her arms were green, and she had tan arm pads that went from her wrist to halfway up her forearm. There was a small red dot on the center and top of the pads, as well as in the center of her chest area. The tan cloth came down to a tan skirt, which went down to her knees.
"The Principal has told you the basis of the mission. To further the explanation, you're to go down to Ragol via the planetary teleporter. Use the one within the main Hunter's Guild of the city. We first want you to investigate the residential forest area that was setup around the Central Dome. Look for any survivors or any clues that may tell what happened down there..." she trailed off for a minute, then spoke hesitantly."Uh...could you also..." she then shook her head in mid sentence, "Never mind, don't worry about it."
Sheik slightly narrowed his eyes, Grey Fox at the same time crossing his arms. Sheik however was the one to speak for them first.
"Listen miss, we're not that ignorant, so I'd appreciate if you were to tell us what exactly it is that you're hiding."
Irene looked at Sheik for a moment, then sighed and nodded her head. She shot a quick glance at the Principal again, then back to them.
"This is just between you and me...but the Principal's daughter was on Pioneer 1," she said, pausing for a minute then continuing, "Red Ring Rico. I'm sure you've heard of her. Anyhow, if you can, please...find her for us."
Sheik nodded, then turned to Grey Fox, nodding to the teleporter that led back to the city. Grey Fox nodded back, and then they moved side by side down the walkway, and into the teleporter, moving back into the city.
Sheik and Grey Fox stepped from the teleporter just as a large group of hunters exited the Hunter's Guild, obviously on their way to the teleporter themselves. Grey Fox and Sheik both moved to the opposite side of the street, moving around the large group and going into the Hunter's Guild, of which itself had quite a few hunters in it as well. Grey Fox went over to a couple of hunters who were talking to each other about what had happened down on Ragol, passing on various theories.
Sheik however passed the crowd, and moved to the teleporter that would take him to the hunter's lobby. Moving into it the transport moved him into his lobby, which was seven.
He stood around, looking out at the lobby. They had recently erected large hologram projectors on the sides, showing a planet which was probably Ragol in the center, as well as the rest of its moons and close by planets. The holograms were surrounded by metallic rings which swirled around it.
It recieved no attention from him, and he moved past them and up to the platform then looked out the large window. He could see Ragol and nearby planets from here. But his thoughts were focused on the explosion. There was so many questions. What exactly was it that had caused the explosion? What was going on at Ragol? Mostly though, what was the real reasons the Principal had summoned him and Grey Fox first. Had he something to do with their creation?
Grey Fox at that time came up beside him, though Sheik stayed focused on the outside.
"So then...what exactly is it to be? Do we do as asked?" said Grey Fox, Sheik slightly turning his head to him as he spoke, "You have the same suspicions as I. I know you do Sheik. That man, Tyrell, he may have something to do with the reason why we're here."
Sheik said nothing back, then looked out again. He was right after all. He knew that both he and Grey Fox were sure of it that Tyrell was definitely a key in it at least. Sheik finally turned to Grey Fox fully, his red eye slightly flashing.
"Grey Fox, I shall accept the Principal's mission. I am finding myself curious about many things, and I feel doing so will aid in answering some questions. But..." he stopped for a minute, then continued, "I however don't think its wise to trust the other hunters. Its why I've been avoiding them. So many are without honor."
"Indeed so. I heard it myself with those talking in the guild. Their biggest concern was if their would be any cash left in the banks of the remnants of the residential area," said Grey Fox with a large hint of disgust, "Such fools should not even be a warrior."
Sheik nodded, then smiled slightly, though the only part that showed it was his left eye, but it was enough.
"Grey Fox...I propose now a team of sorts," he said with a slight hint of confidence; Grey Fox crossed his arms, showing he was listening, and Sheik continued, "It is indeed so that there is not many of honor. You and I have a connection obviously, and whether it goes to our honor or even heritage, it matters not so much as the fact as it still exists and is our only link to discovering our truth. I don't know quite what's in store for us yet, but I do know that we must find out who we are and why we are here. A team, will be better at that than a single."
For awhile Grey Fox stood there, and he then nodded his head, "For once, I'd have to say a team sounds nice. I've worked alone so much, but maybe perhaps with two warriors, we can accomplish it better."
Sheik nodded, then turned back to look at Ragol, "Let it be so then. Recognize us then as V. Hunters in code. I'll use it for such that if we somehow make allies, but be careful, for we will most likely make enemies."
"V. Hunters eh? I suppose I can live with it...just don't exactly think I'm going to move over and kiss you or anything," he said, moving over to beside Sheik, looking out at Ragol.
Sheik laughed slightly, though his thoughts weren't much for humor at the moment. He knew...this was the start. This was going to be the start, of a long and drawn out battle. One that would end up costing so many lives, and ruining so many more.
This is actually the last chapter I have completely prewritten. I'm going to restart on the rest of my project. Bear with me on it though, as it will take time. Hopefully though, it will be less once everything slows down a bit. As for the future of the story, again I say be patient. It will start off somewhat slow, but there is only so much you can do with these two characters. That being said, I plan to introduce some more soon.