CHAPTER EIGHT
Civilian Life
"Hold up" said Scott, still a bit discombobulated of the whole entire situation at hand, tilting his head, and giving a slight gesture letting David entering into his apartment on the first floor level, later while David sitting on the couch as he was taking a glimpse of the T.V. Scott walked in his room gripping his old black carbon charcoaled frameless mid-sized backpack, he give out a little strength with his movement letting the backpack dangle on his right shoulder, he was up to something, grabbing supplies, small guns he carried during through the wars, med-kits, money, and the works. Determining on finding this guy depicting he knew that this scenario isn't going to be a one day lurk, anxious, and intentionally, "So uh…Are we going to find this guy? Or" interrupting David dialect he grumbled a bit as he glanced at the monitor with his brown iris's, as the report starting to chime in as David was getting agitated of the next update on the news, "Recently Red One Collation currently disbanded from Corneria's PMC a Private Military Corporation funding just like last years Trinities Cross brigade, and Colonel Kuris has nothing to say about the disbanding. On other news the economy is giving us a low deficit in the nations capital in the most recent years; However, President Johnson is currently providing a new funding plan to give more schools, jobs, and for our nations youth advocates…." Scott turned off the monitor giving a slight grin on his face, "Ready to have a search party?" David scoffed, "You still have that thing? I'm surprised it still fits." David still remembers the time was a bit younger, and shorter, and arrogant, when he was in the army at age six-teen wearing that same old backpack even though Scott "changed" a bit, but not much, his characteristics is a gift, some of them grew over time such as being a leader, his morals and his actions improved during basic training over the last seven years. Opulent in his actions which is very rare in by standards he commanded as if he was in the red-zone again, "Alright, we need some more information on his current locations, were searching a ghost in the fog here, we should try the local bars, or think were he heads off every day", as David acknowledge he gave a slight nod as he took the lap-top with him searching in the database of the Corneria's Police Department. While driving in the car, he scouted some routes for local bars, "Found anything yet?" Scott said with a powering voice, "Nothing yet, man this guy is well hiddin', not even a single trace of his identity finger prints, no profile, not even a single trace, I even tried social net-workings of the database, couldn't find anything in the archives. Could this guy be hiding from the government?" Scott didn't know, he sighed, as he was still driving for a destination spot, lowering his head in despair seemed relentless at the time, "Well, he is working for mercenaries, I would imagine this guy hiding from the government, he's well hiddin' that's for damn sure", the two renegade troops thought and waited for awhile watching for suspicious activity, they don't even have a recognition on this civilian, so it was extra tiring for them. Scott, finally made a destination point, he decided to go where he had his first drink at a local bar, when they were driving at one point A to point B, it was nerve wrecking everything seemed fast, couldn't focus on the situation at hand, as they reached to the local bar, it wasn't striking for David, he said in a dissatisfied tone, "This is the place?"questioning Scott's embarking, David looked at the complex facility like a normal building it had one story made out of steel metallic furbished building, looked like there was holes in the walls from its history it seemed like it had a lot of action a long time ago, despite its peaceful nature, Corneria has always been a prime target for attack from different civilizations, and other governments on planets.
Many of the inhabitants live in the shelter of the mountain ranges, where very productive farming soil can be found. Corneria is a resembling the real-life earth. Corneria is home to the total sentient population of the Lylat system, but due to careful planning remains a verdant garden world. Its cities and industry were built with keeping in harmony with nature, allowing its rich ecosystem to flourish. It is the center of culture and government of the Lylat system, and is a prime target for those seeking conquest over the galaxy. The porous, volcanic stone of Corneria has allowed for vast cave systems to form, which the Cornerians exploit to construct entire cities in these vast caverns. In times of trouble, Cornerians would seek refuge in these underground shelters and wait out the destructive fighting above. From the ancient stand-point Corneria actual means, "Jewel". Meaning after the recent wars from its history Corneria was the jewel of the Lylat System, Corneria was a trade route for black markets, and simple mercenaries, and barter systems, it had no power to go for war until the First Contact War with the Turaces as the planet was attacked first. Seeming that this place had a good atmosphere in the day, it was easy enough to gain information. Better then that small lap-top device David had earlier, as Scott placed his finger on the scanner of the vehicle the hover-car recognized his epidermis, the car stopped as it made a low hum, before exiting Scott notified David in a concerned tone, "Easy now, don't get a long with the locals, we don't want fights during the day." David made a slight nod towards Scott as some of a acknowledgement to his commands after all they were searching a civilian, not fighting one, as they walked a small distance the site was outstanding seeing amazing tall sky-scrapers, monitors selling products, city life was quite a fascinating site indeed, Scott opened the door allowing David to go in first, the room itself smelled kinda musty at first, the complex itself had great technology entertaining the younger generation, and older generation combined, it wasn't very vibrant as most bars were, it had more of a dark design. The place had one bar table with a lot of variations of inspired beer, whine, vodka, all tables had a feature that was obscure and vague it looked like it was embedded with a monitor inside plexi-glass glass the product had a multi-touch which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of natural motions, hand gestures, or physical objects. It was keen idea that this product came in handy for some rich folks or middle class folks, the table itself is more of a entertaining software for the young generation, the features on which is they can transfer files, photo's, music towards other products just letting it stay on the table or play hologram chess, or a hologram war field game.
Which Scott played along time ago when he was a young pup, there were also two or three chairs surrounding the tables itself to have a deep conversation, in another room it was bigger than the original, for bigger parties, almost of a dance floor it was quite active, perfect for shows such as underground raves, moshes, and Scotts personal favorite if lucky before the guard or owner throws a certain individual out were the gun-fights, or the fights in general, apparently the bar tender said whilst the two entering, "No fights, keep your weapon holstered at all costs, we've been getting them a lot recently." As the bar tender said in a loud respectful manner since there were many, many individuals, having a civilized, independent conversations, a lot of gestures of certain people occurred, but tend to ignore the estate, having a drink or two, "Alright, but were not here to fight, were the good guys" said Scott in a disembodied voice, then with a notification Scott tapped on David shoulder giving him a follow command, as if this was a routine in the army, they sat down on two chairs directly to the bartender saying in a thick accent "Well how goes it? Trading, selling, or buying is my guarantee, if it's towards other folks then it's prohibited. Leave it to me, if you want information however, that's free of charge." Scott raised an eye-brow, not recognizing the new owner, "Where's Peter the recent bar owner?" the bar-owner sighed distastefully, "That…That was my father, I'm eighth generation for this god damn thing, he's retired long ago. He's writing his featured "Auto-Biography" but still, I'm owner, did you know him?" the bar-owner replied, "Yes, we go way back, since the First Contact War, as a Desert Templar. That's when I was seventeen, now that I'm twenty-five, I'm working as a mercenary now." The owner shook his head in a shocking response, "A mercenary?! Gotta have tough skills for those type of jobs, aye? Seems to much for me…If you want information on mercenary business I'd speak with Jack Hugh, he's in some group, I don't know what it's called…Crimson… Something or other I can't keep up with many mercs coming here each day trying to recruit old and young, I should make a rule on that someday..." Scott made another head gesture responding to that name, they found a guy who can give them some information, but don't know when he comes and goes, instead of forcing the owner for information, he just made a remark, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, but business is good so far, we don't have any dept to pay anyways yet. May we have a drink or two?" the owner shook his head in a positive way, giving out a happy mood, "Glad to hear! We have a lot of assortments, 850 of 'em." Scott always loved coming here when he was seventeen, he ordered his favorite drink, "I'll take one rum on the rocks, and coke, and lemon. Spiced. Thank you." "Ah wise choice, that's been very popular lately on the monitor display for orders." However, David didn't like to drink, but he ordered one just not to be rude, "Er…I'll take one beer. One with lime." As if David was trying to be like Scott the drinking expertise, the owner replied back in a confused manner, "Lime? Beer is only good natural, but if you insist."
After a while's wait, Scott said to David pre-cautiously, "Look at your surroundings, keep a sharp eye on contact for valuable information, I'll start with the bar-tender. Agreed?" David nodded as he countered back, "Remember, I used to be a sniper, I know how it works." The atmosphere in Ascension's Den was highly active, people dancing around, having fun, one of the adults seem that they were playing a bar game that was usually a popular hit called, "ARAD" which was a generated hologram multi-touch chess game, but controlled with various vehicles, and infantry, and buildings that they can produce from certain currency from the HUD display showing, individuals will place bets on the opposing or defending team. David got up from the chair hearing certain conversations and pounding techno rave music seemed to much, how could any-body think in this mess? David thought, the bar-tender was serving the drinks as he pulled out a red bottle and a shot glass on the brown maple tabletop, as the bar-tender poured the liquid on the ice. Scott sitting there looking off in the distant trying to observe his surroundings cautiously, laying his arm on the tabletop, he then found David in the far end talking to some acquaintances, he said to himself, "I'm not here to have a good time. I'm here to get information" he looked at the bar-tender, "Excuse me, er, I over-heard that this James McCloud guy, isn't he available? Or well at the moment?" he questioned respectfully but eagerly he shouldn't have said that so soon, "Eh, well. Yes but he comes in the mornings, for what? Don't know, for who? Don't care." He said abruptly, he then said, "Anything you want else?" Scott countered, "No, no thank you. I was just wondering." He took a sip from his drink he felt the coldness against the lips, as the liquid went down just fine, a bit hard to the touch and bitter, but good, as he tasted a hint of lemon as an after-taste to eliminate the bitterness from the first sip, he felt good inside after the cooling chill, glancing at the people with activity, he got off his chair leaving the shot-glass polished, he gave the bar-tender some credits saying, "Thank you." The bar-tender just nodded, giving a low smirk, as he went by cleaning, Scott on the other hand, had a mission to do a very valuable mission. Still observing the area he is trying to hear conversations that is important to him, but all was a murmur and faint, he couldn't keep up but he tried to synch most of the conversations in order to keep it easier on him to find information. He walked over towards David position in the second room of the bar, after walking through corridors, and small passageways from of the people that formed together, he said, "Did you find any information, yet?" David was kind of distracted of ARAD where certain individuals placed bets for the opposing team instead of the defender, two adults were playing the game, placing their first upper hand strategy, placing each building, vehicles, infantry, precisely to their specific needs to gain a opportunity to strike that player.
Using their hands and fingers they made precise movements for the formant on which they wanted to position their characters, one of the adults placed three tanks at the right hand side for a counter-attack just incase the other will strike at that position, as the real hologram shifted by a swift movement of one of the adults hand the characters moved in real time little shouts can be heard in the game, effects were made in a blaze, David so eager to try this game out, even though he was a game enthusiast after the war. As David was watching the scenario of tough concentration, to see who would win the upper-hand, he quickly snapped out of the hypnosis's, "Nah, not a thing, at least not yet. I've been trying though." Scott replied, "Alright, we need to be focused." He nodded and acknowledged Scott's command, he glanced down at the monitor again, "Damnit!" Shouted one of the male wolf pounding on the monitor screen, David glanced at the wolf, "Hey let me give you a few tips, try using a flank maneuver with your tanks, and use your squads as primary back-up." The wolf stared at the red fox in confusion he said to David, "Is this really going to work?" he was concerned, David had the confidence that this tactic will work out, as he was commanded the wolf waved his hand over the monitor highlighting the small tanks around the beach-head, as he pushed forward up in the forest clicking it with his finger, the tanks invaded the forest and awaited the convoy from the other player who was sitting right across him thinking his next move. David said again, "Take one of the snipers from your platoon. He can observe the base clearly giving him optional barrage fire." The wolf took David advice and took one of the snipers from his second platoon, the HUD display occurred giving him a barrage feature that had the symbol of a skull and cross-bones, he highlighted it with his finger, as he circled the opponents base, the character's in the game gave out a acknowledgement towards the wolf's command a barrage of missiles from the tanks in the forest supported the soldiers who was invading the base, some were lost, some gain prestige points, and some threw grenades. The base blew up in a matter of seconds, and the game was over. The wolf looked up at David, "Who are you? Did you play this game before?" He stayed cautious, "I'm David Shepard, used to work at the military. A.R.A.D acronym stood for Assault Recon Advance and Defense." The wolf was inspired by David technique in the military, he glanced down at the monitor viewing a live feedback replay of his defenses, he said confidently, "You want to give this a go? Since you know this simulation?" he grabbed the money from his opponent giving a big grin, shaking the opponents hand. "Well, as long as we don't make bets, exchange information if I win?" Said David, the wolf made a sheepish grin, "You're not a gambling man are you?" He gave a negative head-shake, "No, I'm not. But if you want to exchange information, I'm fine with that." The anonymous wolf with yellow irises nodded, "Alright, what is it you want to know?" He replied, "I'd like to know the where-a-bouts of James McCloud." The dark wolf agreed, and he said, "You came to the right man, yes I do know about James McCloud. You don't even need to play a game for that name, unless this is official business with the government military?" David paused for a minuet, he didn't know this man, but if he could somehow manipulate this wolf, he can gain him as a valuable ally, usually dealing with an extortionist's is a bad idea, but he couldn't wait any longer, "Yes, this is government business." He looked at the wolf carefully, the wolf drank a clear dark malt drink from a small glass, the taste was bitter but it had a vanilla extract as a after-taste. It wasn't as a hard drink, but it had some traces of alcohol in it. He moved his arm down settling the glass upon the monitor, "Hmm…" he gave a thought, "Alright, how about this, I join your group, and you can have this James McCloud, deal? And we don't have to play a stupid game." David didn't like this one bit, he wasn't trustworthy enough.
Scott went down the isle's talking to other individuals, he finally reached with Shepherd's position, "Finally made a new local" Scott patted David's back giving a friendly gesture, he gave a faint smile towards Scott, "Yes a local, my name is Matthew Reinhart." The wolf folded his arms, he had a deep scar on his left yellow eye. He wore some light white exoskeleton body armor it made him easier to run in hard situations, but venerable if he was shot he didn't have a kinetic shield equipped onto him and a gun holstered right to his leg, "Do you know a guy name Jack Hugh?" Scott informed Matthew, he nodded quickly to his answer. "Yes, I do know Jack Hugh, he's one of the founders in a elite mercenary group called "Crimson Tides", I used to work with the man. Why?" he questioned in a low tone, he was relaxed in his position. "Your friend here was looking for a man name James McCloud? What business do you have with him?" Scott was shocked about this question, they found the guy who they were looking for, this informant. He went straight to the subject, "What do you know about James McCloud?" Matthew looked behind him he saw a few Lylat Federation soldiers in the bar, looked like they were patrolling the area with there guns holstered and they were talking to the bar owner, the Lylat Federation was a Federation that placed the extortionist's into jail for death, because they thought it was treason to all planets of the Lylat System. The Lylat soldiers had great exclusive kinetic battle-armor, called, the "Great Phoenix" armor, the shields cannot be depleted in a single shot, there exoskeleton armor had a dark charcoal color with camouflage and had a dark vectored phoenix on their left leg. "Crap" whispered Matthew, he then glanced at Scott and David, "We can't talk now, the Federation is here. We have to be discreet." They both nodded at Matthew, "But where?" Scott questioned Matthew swiftly, "There's a door, in front of us. You see it?" He point in front of Scott and David's shoulder's, then he lowered his arm, Scott looked behind him it was hard to view since the female dancers up the stage were raving to psy trance music each beat was a work of art, since their bodies were painted in different vibrant color features. Matthew got up slowly, and tapped David on his shoulder gently giving him the go to proceed with him, each one got up from the side booth walking out the door silently as if nothing happened a light breeze hit Matthew's face as he opened the door his hand giving a slight 360 degree motion feeling a jolt of energy in his whole arm. They were in the parking garage of the building, still dark in the other room a silhouette of Scott, and David exited the building as Matthew shut the door giving a slight nudge against his shoulder making pressure against the door, to make it silent so they wouldn't give out their position. Matthew sighed, as he leaned on the brick wall on his back, "C'mon!" echoed Scott's voice in the parking garage, he raised his hand making a swift gesture towards Matthew, they all sprinted to Scott's vehicle. As they went inside and shut the vehicle door, Scott started the engine. "Thanks for the much needed support guys, those federation scum keep following me…" Scott looked in the mirror up top of his car glancing at Matthew, "What's your story?" he said to Matthew, he replied, "Do you need a background check? If so, then fine."