Year: 132020

Time: 16:45 PM

Location: Chicago Panopticon, CODE 1 Section

The place was huge. Lights and cameras hung over the ceiling, watching our every move. The walls looked rusted as well, but a bit better fixed. Around me, there were other sinners; either hanging around in groups or just sitting on their own mumbling on their own insanity. Not only that, but there are 2 or 3 OPS accessory guards on each corner of the area. Yep, this is the area for Code 1 sinners. There are other areas as well for higher Code sinners. For one, Code 6-8 sinners and Second-Class citizens get the more luxurious and better resourced areas; where from I heard is better than the sinners lower than 6. Man, if only...

I decided to head to the bar for a drink after being locked up for so long, and since its getting late. I headed towards the elevator. As I was heading there, I noticed something very different about this area. There seems to be more sinners than there are of OPS guards. Not only that, most of the guards seem to be deactivated; I just walked past one and it didn't react or anything. Something's definitely up, and I have a bad feeling about it. Like I know it's Chicago Panopticon but why is this area...

My trace of thought was interrupted by the elevator arriving. I went in and went down to the hub. As I was descending, the elevator was kinda shaking and creaking...old piece of shit.

I got down to the hub and notice that no not many people or guards were here as much anymore.

I walked to the fueling station and was about to go in, but as I opened the door slightly, I heard a voice said, "Give me all of what you have, old man. And don't play no games with me either."

Another voice, what sounded like the bartender. "Get lost, laddies. I already told yuh, business is slow."

"DON'T PULL THAT CRAP! You see this here?" I heard the voice say.

"Yuh know yer gonn' get hunted down if yuh do tha', lad," said the bartender.

I heard enough. I went in to see what was going on and try to stop this. There I saw, a small gang; like 5 people with their gear, and the bartender behind the counter with his hands raised. The gang turned around and saw me. I couldn't make their faces because they all had helmets on, but they did wear red with black.

One with a falcon-shaped helmet said, "Who the fuck is this?"

Another, I assume is the leader, with a lead-colored helmet said, "Hey, get lost man. We're handling business here."

"Looks like a robbery more than business." I said.

The lead head sighed, then said, "Look I don't got time for this."

He signaled the falcon head with a hand motion, then the falcon head came walked towards me and grabbed me by the arm. Big mistake. I turned it around and planted the falcon head on one of the bar tables, bending his right arm backwards. I heard him screaming in pain as I was applying more pressure to his arm, feeling it ready to snap.

"Look, I'm giving you guys one chance," I said. "Leave now or your little friend is gonna have more than just a broken arm."

The lead head chuckled. "You don't got the guts to-"

I interrupted him by snapping the falcon head's arm in half. He screamed like crazy and was in serious pain. I learned breaking bones from Demo...rest his soul. I let go of his arm and grabbed his left leg.

"I don't play around. If I were you, I wouldn't mess with someone like me," I said, while bending the falcon head's leg.

"Alright," the lead head said, his voice concerned for his teammate. "We'll leave."

I let go of the falcon head and tossed him aside. They picked him up as he groaned in pain, then left the bar. I sighed, then turned to the bartender.

Luckily, I knew him well. "You alright, Buck?"

"Yah. Thanks for the help, Echo," he said.

I nodded and took a seat on one of the stools. Buck was a good friend of mine, and a great bartender. He was from the Ireland Panopticon, so his Irish accent mostly gives it away. He knows me well considering I always came here when I was with Charlie 8.

He went to grab a Shukler's beer; my favorite and usual, then handed it to me.

"Here yuh go, lad. It's on the house," he said.

"Thanks," I said, taking a drink from it.

"Sorry 'bout what happen to yer team," he said

I sighed, "Well, nothing you can do about it."

"Aye lad," he said. "I also hear the yer captain now."

He pats me in the shoulder. "Congrats, lad."

"Thanks Buck," I said. "I don't know if I'll be good as captain though."

"What 're yuh talking 'bout, lad? Yuh make a fine captain," he said. "Trained by the best."

"Yeah, I know," I said.

I finished up my drink and threw the bottle in the trash. "Thanks for the beer, Buck."

"Anytime," he said. "Yer always welcome 'ere whenever."

I got up and left the fueling station. As I got out, I got a message from Finsk, which said, "You got a big day tomorrow. Meet me at the launching station to meet your team."

Great, a new team. I really hope that I can do this. I took a deep breath, then headed back to my cell and into the start of a new life...for better or for worse.