He landed face first on what felt like cold stone, instantly getting to his feet and looking around him to see darkness everywhere.
"Figit?" Andrew called out, wondering where his companion had got to. No response. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath before putting his hood up and concealing his face behind his bandana and goggles. He set off in a random direction across the flat plains of darkness.
The two landed on their feet, Kia clinging to the mod she was bound to for balance, who had returned to her usual appearance.
"What happened?" Hatter asked, rubbing her eyes and looking around. "Is this another dream? It looks so empty; it's somewhat unnerving."
"I don't recognise it," Kia replied, shaking slightly and moving her hands close to her chest, disappointed and embarrassed her plan hadn't worked. "Do you think this dream might belong to whoever set off the Inducer, or could it be a civilian's nightmare?"
"This could fill anyone's nightmares, so it's probable the latter. It could be the girl from Open but Figit told us catch 'him', not 'her'."
"So what's the plan? Explore the area?" Kia asked, scanning the area, hoping to see some sign of structure or civilisation.
"I suppose. It's either that or wait here for someone to come along and find us."
"I'd rather move; staying still feels like we have no purpose or aim," Kia admitted, wrapping her arms around herself and moving closer to the mod in search for what little comfort she could find in such a desolate place. The mods head twitched slightly as she heard sounds of movement nearby and she looked around, trying to track its source.
The hunter pushed himself up from the grey floor he had landed on, rubbing his head in confusion at the sudden change in location. He observed the surrounding area, running his fingers through his mess off purple-tipped hair. His feline ears twitched and he armed his weapon, ready to send a bolt at what - or whom - ever was causing the disturbance.
Jessi squinted to better see a small yellow mass in the distance. It was quickly getting larger, and closer. Just before the strange object hit him he rolled out of the way and saw it fly past; it looked like magic. But that was illogical, magic didn't exist - only science, technology and skill.
He aimed his weapon at where that thing had come from and let the bolt loose, the satisfying thwack of his target being hit echoing out, and then a cry of pain and very muffled cursings. A smirk crossed his face as he ran towards his target, drawing a long, slightly curved hunting knife.
Her head hurt. All she could feel was a plain, flat surface and there were no distinct smells. As she lay there she started wondering when the patrol would find her, and whether she'd hit her head on the rocks as she fell; was she dead? No, that was impossible, but if she wasn't dead she should have been submerged in water. Nothing was adding up. She could hear two faint voices in the near distance, then footsteps running, getting closer.
"Wait, is that who I think it is?" said one of the voices, definitely belonging to a girl. Who had found her? It couldn't be part of the patrol since the patrols were all male.
"What are you on about?" the other person replied, sounding slightly more mature than the other but still most certainly female.
"It is her! It absolutely is!" The first voice was getting excited.
"Who?" This second voice sounded slightly shaky, as if she was hiding something.
"Manz? You know, the detective? She's the star of the upcoming BBC1 show adapted from Lavs' award-winning crime and mystery book series!" Manz could feel hands shaking her slightly, her head beginning to feel very light as she started to regain consciousness.
"Kia, I wouldn't do that, she could be dangerous for all we know," Kia? she recognised that name.
"Aww, c'mon Hatter, it's Manz, it fits the description perfectly," Hatter? that was definitely a name she knew. She opened her eyes and saw the blurred image of Kia directly above her, both hands gently shaking her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes in an attempt to regain focus and then recoiled slightly when she saw the two clearly.
"Y-y-y-you're…" Manz stuttered, shaking softly.
"We're who?" Hatter replied, giving the cloaked girl a puzzling look.
"H-H-Hatter and-d Ki-Kia…"
"How does she know who we are?" Kia whispered to the mod.
"I don't know" Hatter whispered back, she then looked back down at Manz and asked,"What were those names again dear?"
"Hatter and Kia, the famous author and singer from tier 2?"
"Are you famous Kia?" Hatter asked looking around at her young companion
Kia shook her head and pointed at Manz, "I'm not, but she is."
"I am?" Manz asked, her head still fuzzy from the fall and relocation.
"Yeah, you are Manz right? The famous Actress about to portray the lead from one of the best book series ever written?" Kia replied, struggling to hold back her excitement
"Manz IS me but I don't think I'm an actress? Where am I anyway?"
"Your guess is as good as ours."
"Wait we're not in Generica?" Manz propped herself up, the fuzz starting to leave her as shock replaced it.
Andrew clutched his thigh staring at the bolt that was now solidly inside it. He could hear footsteps moving towards him but he couldn't turn quick enough to stop the figure pouncing at him, a knife firmly in one hand. Next thing he knew the hunter was on top of him, knife pressed to his throat.
"Who are you?" Jessi asked forcibly, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.
"Who's asking?" Andrew responded, attempting to stay calm, he had escaped worse than this before.
"Are you really trying to ask me, you're the one with a blade at your throat."
"And you the one who just shot and jumped me before knowing what I can do," Andrew smirked and clenched his gloved fist which started to surround itself in a yellow substance which looked somewhere between liquid and solid. He then found his mark and punched his attacker square in the stomach causing a yellow blast of similar consistency to throw the Hunter off him.
"So should we skip the fighting or?" Andrew asked, pushing himself up and readying his weapon, pointing the orange bludgeon end at the now floored Jessi.
"What the hell was that stuff?!"
"What, Eco?" In the thief's confusion Jessi fired another bolt narrowly missing but the thief's recoil gave him another chance to strike. Jessi pounced again, knocking the thief to the ground, Andrew's blue hood flying of his head revealing his scruffy blonde hair.
"Wait? Figit?"