Sam paced down the street, followed closely by Robert having left the old town district into the close by central downtown area in a straight roadbed street, almost arriving at the clinic. Cars drove up and down the busy road ahead of the local clinic in downtown. Even with the technological advances, tires were still a thing, but so sleek and precise most accidents would only occur by the driver's error along the smooth concrete roads hardened with a tougher element for the advanced appearance. Some would stop by opening their hatch, covering most of the top half of the vehicles, allowing those inside to enter or disembark. They all sound like breezes with their elegant engines as the passersby on the pavements walked past.

Sam and Robert quickened their pace, almost jogging as the time went on, leaving it close for comfort for the humans before their shifts start. Their breathing was a tad heavier as they rushed down the hill, cutting past bystanders crossing off the path onto the open metallic walkway. Sam peered behind him, watching Robert having fallen behind a little and shouted, "Come on man, we won't have time to get ready at your pace!"

"Okay Samulini, we have ten minutes. That's plenty of time to get set," retorted Robert. The long-haired human rolled his eyes, mocking his best friend. "The clinic is right there, you need to chill sometimes you do."

Sam slowed his pace, figuring Robert had a point, but flung his eyes upward with a snark grin. "Remember that the next time you're late and dropped in it with Ray again? You'll be in a hurry then. Besides, you take forever to get ready."

Robert grew a long grin across his face up to his cheeks, shrugging his shoulders out. "Hey, a guy as fabulous as me has to work hard to keep up his perfect image. It's my job to ensure the place is radiant with friendliness and my amazing standard."

Shutting his eyes, Sam shook his head, puffing a breath to processes his friend's insolence. Arriving just outside the glass foyer surrounded with white creamy colours, decorating the entire clinic with the rimmed base in the circular walkway outside the entrance where a former elder statue once placed now. It sported a water fountain jetting water into the air above with benches set up around it with the corners of the front of the building entrance sporting the typical DNA strand sculptures, a small but significant design change since the old days. The pair focused on the fountain, admiring the shine the sunlight projected onto the water as they looked over the clinic.

Both enjoyed how well kept their workplace was, even being part of one of the key establishments to City 31. The city ensured it catered for the healthcare at peak funding to serve the many species inhabiting the metropolis.

"You know, it's amazing how well looked after these small clinics are. I gotta hand it to the city for that one," Robert pointed out, admiring the decor of the clinic.

Sam nodded, agreeing with him as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, it's an important industry having to care for no one but many species. It's quite the challenge."

A thought jumped into Roberts' mind as he viewed the building his smile dropping and lowered his voice "Um… by the way, I dunno if anyone told you but I found out a few days ago this place used to be one of those gene-clinics."

His eyes widening, slightly surprised by the admission, Sam turned facing Robert. "Really? How do you know?"

"Dan! He found out through the higher up's," answered Robert.

Sam turned back to the clinic, viewing it with crossed arms. "The stories of those gene-clinics give me the shivers. I don't want to imagine all the poor people lured into them… never returning to their loved ones… although a lot of humans and hybrids argued for them to be reopened."

"Really? why?"

"Well… especially hybrids, the gene-tech helped with conditions they get afflicted with, like the skin rashes they develop, mainly because of the aggressive mixture of so many alien genes added into their creation. Even humans on some diseases and even with new limbs. Even by today's standard that was extremely advanced tech," Sam explained, almost sounding like he admired the technology associated with the former gene-clinics "As great as the technology and practices were… well as I keep hearing, anyway, It's for the better the horror they inflicted as much as they benefitted. If not the elders now, someone else could have used them."

"I know, makes me feel like we were lucky in a way being born in the resistance. How so many people disappeared and no one even questioned it," Robert concluded, dragging the attention of Sam, his eyes narrowing, almost showing a blip of impatience.

"Lucky? I cannot see how we were lucky. Advent was just as bad with us as well the people in the cities. They may not have been free, but at least they weren't having bullets shot at them," Sam argued, looking away from Robert, watching the water jump from the fountain looking into the reflection.

"Hmm… true, both sides suffered." Robert half-agreed with the statement. Something in the back of his mind told him not to press the situation anymore than he should have, judging by Sam's reaction, "Are you okay?"

Sam blinked his eyes a few times before looking at Robert and painted a smile on his face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, I was just thinking for a minute."

Sam looked at his C-pad, checking the time. In a split second, his eyes widened. "Shit! We've only got five minutes left! We need to get ready."

Robert had a similar reaction, quickly nodding before they both rushed forward, walking towards the entrance, the glass doors sliding open in reaction to their proximity. Crossing the threshold into the centre, seeing benches with many patients awaiting their appointments, mostly humans with a couple of hybrids and sectoids. Sam noticed two mutons sat together, a male and female by their features although it was hard to distinguish by taking up half a bench between them, the male with a brace and bandages over his entire left arm in visible discomfort squeezing his hands into fists. And on the bench next to them, a lone Viper with bandaged dressings over her arms and waist, having received injuries.

The pair looked around them as they walked on, surprised by the large influx of visitors requiring care and some very serious cases. They walked up towards the main desk sat a male hybrid dressed in a blue with a grey strip clinic uniform typing on the flat keyboards with two screens either side of him.

"Afternoon Derne!" Sam called out, catching the hybrids' attention looking up from the screen.

"Oh hello Sam, hello Robert. Are you both well?" asked Derne, beaming a smile at the humans.

"As always, Derne, and might I say your looking very sharp and full of energy on this lovely day," Robert decreed, beaming a big smile at the hybrid, He tilted his head and tightened his lips slowly nodding his head admiring how presentable the hybrid was.

The hybrid blinked repeatedly for a moment, being surprised by Robert's forwardness. Derne at first wasn't sure how to perceive it, but smiled. "Thank you Robert. I make sure I'm at the professional standard at all times."

"And you clean up very well Derne… unlike this poo head next to me," Robert smiled before flashing a bantering glare towards Sam, trying to get a rise out of his best friend.

Sam shook his head, huffing a breath slightly amused by Robert's attempt but felt a tad embarrassed looking around to see if anyone had heard his best friend's words before jumping at him "Really Robert… poo head? We aren't kids, you know… I swear you're going to be the death of me."

Robert threw him a big grin, knowing he had hopefully rattled Sam out of nowhere while it confused Derne just maintaining a smile defending "Well thank you Robert, but I think Sam looks professionally well dressed today."

Appreciating Dernes' praise and deciding to ignoring the comment from his friend, Sam leaned forward over-the-counter whispering to Derne, "Hey, how come we got so many patients today? The place is never this packed!"

Dernes' eyes widened, showing the more feature of his alien-like eyes as the rest of his body infused with the DNA of so many species and leaned forward. "You didn't hear? That factory explosion this morning… it was only a few streets away! They sent most of the non-critical patients here, along with a couple of critically wounded. Our emergency rooms are full!"

"Your kidding?! I didn't realise we were that close to it. Has there been any reports on what happened?" questioned Sam, placing a stern hand on the desk counter, in awe of how quickly a simple shift was looking to be a mad rush.

"No idea. Ray can probably tell you more, but you guys better get ready," suggested Derne, motioning his head over the left towards a metallic double door. "From the calls I've been getting from emergency teams, I expect we're going to be at capacity for most of the day."

Robert grunted, puffing out his response, and slouched slightly on his shoulders, miffed at the news. A long, busy Friday shift was the last thing he wanted. Sam, while peering his eyes at the amount of patients sat on the benches patiently waiting for their treatment, heaved a powerful breath. "Well, we better get to it Robbo. These people are counting on us!"

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted an easy shift for a change," Robert conceded, almost in a begging manner. Sam shook his head, smirking at the admission. "Robbo! When have we ever had an easy shift in our lives?"

Robert lifted his head, wanting to argue back, but stopped midway, coming to the realisation he was right initially deflated before standing straight "I know… it sucks. But duty calls, I suppose."

Sam looked at the patients sat waiting, noticing some of their expressions painted across their faces, although some species more difficult than others to tell. Some were calm, others were unhappy and a couple looking annoyed even, giving him second thoughts. He had to admit for his last shift of the week it wasn't one he would look forward to if the looks of the patients to come showed anything. He had enough of difficult patients for the week, but injected a fair bit of optimism in himself, hoping maybe he misjudged the situation.

Robert steered himself up and the two bid goodbye to Derne. Walking towards the double doors, Sam pulled his jumper sleeve up revealed his C-pad pressing the holographic buttons it projected and twisted it towards the door sensor with a quick scan and click propelled the double doors to slide open letting the pair walk on through moving through the hallway passing through another sliding door.

The door closed as quick as it opened, the two arriving in the staff room sporting a few fancy grey couches, a large screen on the opposite wall with a small kitchen area and two separate rooms, one for the toilets and other for the locker room. Sam turned to the scanner beside the door, swiping his wrist with his C-pad through it. The scanner clicked, reading out his name and the time 11:58 on the screen.

As Robert followed suit clocking in, Sam hurried to the lockers, passing by a few all fitted with electronic dashes and a metallic name tag plastered on the front. Arriving at his locker with his name written on, Sam unstrapped his bag, placing it on the bench below the locker and presented his c-pad, aiming it to the locker dash and with a simple click, it unlocked. Opening it, he set about removing his fleece, depositing it in the locker and taking out his blue medical shirt. Removing his c-pad, he placed it on the shelf and set about changing into the uniform.

Dressed and ready, taking his c-pad back and putting it on his wrist again and closing the locker, he checked the time having gone 12:01pm and turned to Robert closing his locker and built himself up breathing a sigh. "Show time!"

"Let's get this over with!" Robert boasted, filling himself with confidence in his voice as the pair exited the staff quarters, just in time to see the commotion kicking off.

A wheel bed with three medical staff pushing in a frantic hurry with an unconscious human covered in burns and blotchy bruises laid on top, strapped in, moving down the hallway. Sam and Robert moved back close to the wall, allowing space for the wheel bed to get past.

"Ah perfect, Sam! Robert! Take him into CU room three!" Shouted Ray, the head doctor of the clinic letting go acknowledging the two medical assistants, instructing the other two pushing the bed to continue on before turning his attention to the duo "We got a big situation, I'm needed in there all our CU rooms are engaged and I've got a ton of patients out there waiting to be seen."

Ray pointed towards the door he came through before tapping on Robert's shoulder. "I'll need to speak to you at some point anyway, so I want you to join me in the CU rooms, Robert."

The dark blue-haired human nodded with a slight chill greasing down his spine at what he first said as Ray turned to Sam and explained, "Most of us are in the CU rooms, we have too many critically wounded. We only had three nurses left out there tending to the non-critical, but there's so many of them. Can I count on you to get out there and weather the storm of patients? Hopefully, it won't be too long and I'll be able to send some of our guys out the CU's and give you hand!"

"You got it Ray! I'm on it!" Sam nodded without hesitation like a fire ignited in his belly, determined to get going, and quickly turned to Robert and tapped his arm. "Good luck in there, mate. I'll catch up with you later."

"Yeah, I'll see you later. Best of luck out there. It looked rough!" Robert exclaimed, noting his observation from earlier and nodding to his best friend. They exchanged one last glance, rushing off in the separate directions as Sam ran through the quickly sliding doors coming back out into the main reception area.

Sam startled a gasp through his clenched teeth, noticing the number of patients having grown from mere minutes ago, and blurted to himself, "Christ… How bad was that explosion?"

A human nurse stood at the front of the desk yelling out for attention, "If you have only just walked in, please check in at the desk and you will be assigned to a waiting section. Please be patient and we will get to you as soon as possible!"

While most complied, having already checked in or went to do so now, a few visitors sat on the metal benches, mainly humans with the odd hybrid scowling or groaning, showing their annoyance with the glares and crunching of their faces. The non-human visitors, on the flip side, seemed much more accepting of the circumstances taking to their allocated seating areas.

Sam's mouth slipped open, gob smacked by the sight of everything. Praying underneath his breath, there would be no tough patients today. The last thing he wanted was a tough shift before the weekend. Allowing himself to process it all, mentally preparing himself for the long shift ahead of him, exhaling a long breath of air. He walked forward towards the desk.

The nurse, in his attempts to get patients settled, pointed towards a corner for a pair of hybrids to go sit spotting Sam, exhaling a sigh of relief. "Sam! Thank goodness! We're pretty short handed out here."

"I can tell! I wasn't expecting this when I walked into work today. Are most of these from that factory explosion?" questioned Sam.

"A lot of them, yes. We were the closest to that street, so they sent here most of those affected. They must think were a big hospital or something." answered the nurse huffing and puffing in stress as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

"It's mad, but the Kessira gornal clinic can handle it especially when the others are finished in the CU." boasted Sam, trying to instil confidence into his colleague before asking, "So how can I help? Where do you need me?"

The nurse nodded, pointing down the adjacent lounge area. "We need to get the flow of patients under control. Can you manage the cubicles in the lounge a while were all scattered? As soon as we have more help, I'll send them your way."

"I'm on it!" Sam acknowledged. His expression hardened, offering the nurse a half smile before facing the adjacent hallway rushing toward it. He had to excuse his way past a few visitors, some asked for help and all he could do was apologise and reassure help would come as soon as possible. Arriving in the waiting area, he looked around towards the cubicles obscured behind the blurred glass doors.

Sam walked over and grabbed the pad, pressing the screen and it lit up coming online. Tapping the keys appearing on the holo-screen and then pressed his thump for his fingerprint, signing Sam into the clinic's database. He took a moment to collect himself, breathing gently one last opportunity before steering himself towards the cubicles, deciding to begin with number one in an ordered fashion.

Walking into the first cubicle he met with a sectoid sat on the edge of the bed hanging his legs over the end, quick to introduce himself, echoing a friendly tone. "Hello there. Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Sam pressed a button as the blurred glass extended out, closing the cubicle to give the sectoid privacy as the alien coughed, holding his right arm, showing burns across his arm and neck. Sam cooed in a sudden tense, spotting the burn marks and looking closer. "Oh, they don't look good. Have you put anything on these Mr…?"

"Snafu Morn! And yes... I ran the burns under cold water," answered the sectoid in a higher tone of voice compared to a human, revealing his name to Sam.

"Ah, very good. If we're lucky and the burns aren't deep, it shouldn't cause any scarring. Well, let's have a look. Could I scan your C-pad please?" Sam asked politely the sectoid, he seemed willing although a tad hesitant but slowly held out his other arm with the wrist device and Sam tapped the tablet holding it above and it scanned the c-pad projecting a small beam of blue light over the wrist device. The tablet chimed once and clicked the screen, bringing up the patients' medical files cut into sections of text.

Having a quick look, flicking a finger along the screen, and checked for any notes flagged regarding the sectoid's health. To Sam's relief, no immediate concerns mentally or regarding medication worth noting in his files. He placed the tablet on the nearby shelf, turning his attention back to the sectoid.

"Right then, Mr Morn!" announced Sam as he put on some clinical gloves. "Are these the only burns you have?"

"Just my arm and around my neck and shoulder," the sectoid answered, pointing out the large burn running from his shoulder covering some of his upper arm.

"Okay, is there anything else I need to know before we get started? Any other injuries or pain?" quizzed Sam, wanting to get to the point before he began.

The Sectoid shook his head gently, keeping still. "No, just the burns."

Sam nodded and motioned over to the sectoid, grabbing a remote-shaped device off the shelf and beaming it on. "Okay, remain still for me, please!"

Holding the device above the burnt area of the shoulder, Sam pressed a button on the side of the object. A Blue flash of light erupted from the device in a straight line shining down onto the sectoids skin. Sam took a moment running the scan over the burn a few times before retracting the scanning light. Pressing a couple of keys on the device, it projected a screen in front of Sam, showing the scan results with a picture of the shoulder and the scanned section with different colours of red, orange with the colour fading just beneath the deeper into the body it went, Sam produced a short hum intrigued the result before he proceeded with mapping the rest of the burns on Snafu's arm and side of his chest scanning the one further down his arm first.

Each giving its delivered result and Sam adjusted the image, incorporating the sectoids section of body and placing all the burn data onto it with the colours showing the intensity. A shifting smile took hold on Sam's face pressing a few keys before dropping the scanner back on the shelf and turned to the sectoid "Well you may have got off well today, the scans show the burns haven't gone deep into your muscle and tissue apart from the occasional second-degree but most are first degree so your very fortunate today Snafu."

The Sectoid lit a hopeful gaze towards the human, hearing the first bit of good news of the day. Sam moved beside him on the burnt areas asking for his permission first and as the xeno voiced his allowance, Sam planted his fingers around the edge of the burn around his shoulder area gently pressing his fingers down against the sectoids skin "Do you feel anything when I press here?"

Sam moved his fingers above the shoulder, just shy of the burnt part, pressing his fingertips down onto the pale skin. The sectoid cringed with a quiet gasp. "It hurts a little."

"Well, that's promising. I'll just grab some dressings and med-tek. This shouldn't take too long and hopefully I can send you on your way. Keep still and don't touch the burns," instructed Sam, a little hopeful of his first patient of the day was not too serious, all things considered. He exited the cubicle, closing the blurred glass cover to give the sectoid privacy as he made his way over to the nearby medical room to gather the required medical items.

The room was dimly lit, only the computer screen lighting up the surroundings of many other switched off desktops and screens on the surrounding desk with a deactivated holo-table in the middle. Sat alone, looking at the computer screen, Whisper dressed in his usual blue hoodie with the x-com necklace draping down his chest. A finger to his chin watching the news of the elerium explosion this morning of the factory in downtown. His eyes studied every piece, shuffling from the fire of green smoke to the surroundings, having listened to the early news reports and 31PD's initial response. He leaned forward, looking deeper toward the picture laid in front of him on the screen, a finger tapping the desk beside his station. Listening into the broadcast playing through the built-in speaker as the picture changed showed the street battered with the destroyed factory. "As you can see, the fire crews are still working to put out the fires hours after the explosion. From the information shared with us, 31PD not allowed any personnel to attempt entering the building for fears what remains of the factory could collapse at any moment. The scenes from earlier Floyd were hard to watch when the street flooded with civilians, but the elerium fires have become enormous, engulfing the entire factory with so much smoke rising into the air I've seen nothing like it."

Whisper's eyes narrowed close to slits, almost glaring at the screen, glued with his thoughts to the carnage he watched. He started playing with a small pencil in his free hand, spinning it through his fingers while he seemed oblivious that he was doing it at all. He studied every detail of the scene, breaking it down in his mind, muttering to himself, "Those fires are way too big… something's not right…"

"Further concerns to a threat of the fires spreading to the nearby buildings have seen 31PD evacuate the entire street and surrounding buildings unable to guarantee the safety of the local citizens." Reported the hybrid on the screen, standing in front of the picture in the news office. The more Whisper listened and watched, the more this situation intrigued him. Nothing about this fire made any sense to him, especially considering regulations on factory work with elerium and the active amount permitted to the factories at anytime shouldn't result in fires this out of control.

"Something is off here…. very off," Whisper muttered to himself.

He focused on the screen; he failed to notice the door to the room slide open. A woman of dark-charcoal walked in, limping on her right leg as it was replaced half the leg with a robotic limb. She wore a grey x-com uniform, hair brown and bushy but showing patches of grey as she carried two mugs of hot drinks. She noticed the room was so dark with the only light either coming from the monitor or the light from outside the room behind her. As the metallic door slid shut, she placed the cup on the table and reached for the light switch next to it, flicked it upward and, in an instant, the room lit up. Whisper shuddered, blinking his eyes with the sudden burst of light showering him, "What the.."

"Whisper!" the woman called out, jumping Whisper in his seat. His eyes widened so much they almost popped out as he turned to see Godmother with her arms crossed with an amused smirk dotted across her face.

"Oh Godmother, you scared me there," admitted Whisper, breathing steady as he settled back into his chair before turning to face her.

"Whisper, this is the fourth time this week I've found you in here in the dark. Are you alright?" asked the godmother, shaking her head and crossing her arms, very curious as to the answer she was about to receive. Half-closing her left eye, almost expecting the exact words he would speak able to read him like a book.

"It helps me focus and relax sometimes when the only light is the screen in front of me. Something comfortable about it," answered Whisper, feeling sheepish and scratching the back of his head. "Just take my word for it, it's very relaxing."

"Right," Godmother answered with one word unconvinced as she picked the hot drinks up, handing one over to Whisper, thanking and accepting the mug as Godmother trotted over to the free chair with a computer. Manoeuvring around it, shifting her robotic leg over first before seating herself on the chair, placing the hot drink beside her and clicking the entry key on the keyboard, booting up the computer, "What's the market team's status?"

Whisper brought himself onto his computer, running the mouse over and closed the news channel. He opened a map of the city onto his screen as he scanned through, locating a blinking X-com symbol "Not far, should be about ten minutes. Blueblood radioed in they had got what we needed!"

"So far, so good, then." Godmother concluded, preparing to switch on the computer. "Hopefully with some clues on this den!"

She pressed a few keys, loading up information onto the screen to read through report after report. Codenamed Elerium hideaway. She came onto the folder, opening into its content. She sorted through the information while Whisper returned to reading on the news reports regarding the factory explosion also related to elerium.

"Reece to Godmother, come in!" called a voice through their earpieces. Godmother paused her work, pressed a button on her earpiece. "This is Godmother, go ahead!"

"Chief, our recruit has just arrived. Shall I show him up to the command centre?" The voice responded.

Godmother hesitated for a couple of seconds, debating what to do, peering to Whisper having returned into his own world on the news before pressing the ear piece "No, I'll come meet you at the armoury hallway."

The soldier replied his acknowledgment through the comms before the earpiece popped, signalling the connection ending for Godmother to head out. She breathed a sigh, mentally preparing herself before stepping off and heading to the door sliding open. "Whisper, ill be back soon. Please don't turn the lights off again."

"You got it, Chief!" Whisper affirmed, making a quick salute. But Godmother knew better than to take his word for it. She suspected he used her rank on purpose as well. Godmother preferred her team use her name, but with the years gone, some habits are just there now. She knew Whisper has his tendencies when they came about.

The two agents walked down the hallway to the entrance of the armory, Reece having got off the comms with Godmother, guided the recruit to the meeting point. Holding a bag over his back with another smaller rucksack in his free hand down at his side, wearing a shirt and trousers with the XCOM symbol over his chest pocket. The recruit sported brown, medium hair with his fringe pushed up to the side with gel with short stubble of a beard around his face. His brown eyes viewed the surroundings with excitement. He could barely keep his mouth closed from all the thoughts running through his head.

They arrived outside the main armory, with Reece halting them to wait. The recruit put his bags down beside him, reliving his arms for the moment they have looking down the two adjacent hallways he spotted the end to the right looking like a large bay where he saw a large armoured vehicle "Wow is that an XCOM Armadillo APC?"

"One of two we have. Those babies can get us anywhere around the city," answered Reece, appreciating how enthusiastic the recruit was as he crossed his arms.

"Outstanding! Finally going to get some proper action for a change, I've always wanted to jump in one of those babies," The recruit babbled, consumed in his excitement of his new assignment. "So, where shall I put my stuff?"

"The Chief is meeting us here. She will want to brief you first and show you around," Reece replied, keeping a steady emotion getting curious. "So where were you stationed before here, kid?"

"The name's Aaron, not kid!" Aaron scoffed. His mood dropped quickly, darting his eyes towards the soldier standing in front, giving Reece a squinted stare. "Be sure to remember that!"

Reece tilted his head slightly to the left. He felt unsure if that was even a warning or a threat. The recruits attitude changed so fast it was an odd one to process for the XCOM soldier. His gut told him to look further into it, but this time he gave the benefit of the doubt for being new to the squad. He took a step closer as they waited. "So, where did you transfer from?"

"New Mexico! Or at least what's left of it after the war. Saw little action there apart from the occasional lost or chrysalid swarm," answered Aaron, his face falling flat from the mention of his previous post.

"I thought they overrun the old Advent city there after it got abandoned," Reece questioned in a deep curiosity. He remembered hearing when the chrysalid went out of control and the lost overwhelmed the remaining defence's the city forever lost.

"Yeah, but some of the technology and materials were recovered. XCOM and the survivors built a small town." Aaron explained, crossing his arms gently taking him through the tale. "It was doing well, but recently some of the lost attacked the town. And now XCOM are trying to keep them contained in the city, same for the Chrysalids already in there."

Reece became intrigued at the story, having never heard of this before, but being halfway across the states, it wasn't a surprise entirely. "So you were part of that unit?"

"I lived in that town after the war before I joined XCOM. After my training, they assigned me to major Krafts division training and routing out any loyalists remaining to advent," Came the reply from Aaron, sounding half hearted trailing his eyes away from the soldier.

"Fourteen years after we won the war and we still have to deal with loyalists. How can anyone be loyal to the elders after everything they did?" Reece shrugged, puzzling through the possibilities.

"Search me, I just wish I was old enough to be in the war and shoot those bastards myself!" Hissed Aaron, clenching his fists, almost looking annoyed "Then XCOM offered me a transfer to City 31, I thought what an opportunity it would be, finally I can get some proper action. I bet it's easy to find someone here to shoot!"

"Excuse me?" Questioned Reece, narrowing his eyes slightly at the assumption.

"Take it from someone with experience. Nothing about the job in City 31 is easy!" Boomed Godmother catching the attention of the two soldiers spotting her walking down from the hallway to their left.

Reece stood to attention and saluted, "Ma'am."

"At ease, Reece!" Godmother commanded, allowing the soldier to relax once more before she turned her attention to the recruit. "You must be our new agent! Aaron Norton?"

Aaron looked upon her, studying her build taking notice of the robotic limb making up the bottom half of her right leg and foot. Noticing Godmother's stare, he snapped himself out of his trance standing to attention "Yes ma'am! Corporal Norton reporting for duty!"

"Hmm… thank you Reece, go get yourself a drink," Godmother suggested with a slash of authority prompting another salute from Reece taking his leave patting Aaron on the shoulder as he passed him by "Good luck for your first day, kid!"

It felt like a twig snapped in the back of Aaron's mind, glaring at Reece walking off, making out what looked like a grin when he looked back. He always hated being called that. Despite being younger than most XCOM operatives, he has spent enough years to feel warranted with enough experience to justify his presence. Being labelled kid felt like a disrespect to him and he would not take it from anyone.

He continued to watch Reece until he disappeared around the corner down the hallway, only then turning back to face Godmother with her arms crossed as she stepped to the left looking away from him "Since you're new and we're at base I will excuse your words but I want to make one thing perfectly clear agent!"

Aaron stood to attention, taken aback by the sudden sharp tone of the chief taking it out to him, his eyes widening quick and almost felt like he had to swallow a lump "We are XCOM. But we are reclamation! We aren't a squad of soldiers here to do the local authorities' job of rounding up crooks of the street. We're here to ensure City 31 is safe from threats that are too big for 31PD to handle. Instability and anarchy! While we will deal with groups armed with very dangerous technology and weapons intent on doing harm. Our duties include engaging in improving the locale in whatever shape or form we can. Often agents get assigned to solo-operations in the city or even incognito blending in with the public. We seek to support city-31, not supplement its existing leadership and police force. Of course it's inspiring you want to root out threats to the society as is our mission but I expect you to adopt a mentality of 'action' as you say but also to helping the people we're here to support. Is that understood?" Godmother finished stopping her trotting left and right, facing Aaron again with her hands held behind her back.

"Ye… yes ma'am," Aaron stuttered on his answer but came out with it despite that large speech almost having drops of sweat pour down his forehead.

"Very good!" Godmother appraised, standing still, loosening up her hands and visibly relaxing for Aaron to do the same. "Now that we've covered that, on behalf of the team, Welcome to Chimera squad. The first unit to form under reclamation. I'm Chief agent 'Godmother' squadron leader of this unit. But just Godmother is fine."

"Thank you, chief…. I mean Godmother. If I may ask, is that a codename?" Aaron politely asked as he relaxed, letting his curiosity get the better of him.

"If you want the short answer: Yes… and no. If you want the long answer, well, that's a story for another time. Let's say it's the only name I've held onto after the start of the invasion." Godmother answered, seeming to hesitate for a split second, but not enough for Aaron to pick up on it. Godmother gestured a hand towards the right hallway. "Right then, let's get you settled in. We'll drop your gear in the barracks first."

Aaron was pleased with finally getting underway, grabbing his bags hastily following behind Godmother, showing the slight limp in her robotic leg, something Aaron noticed and watched, getting curious about it. They travelled down the bright corridor, illuminated by lighting on the side panels of the corners of the ceiling. Aaron found the experience so far intriguing, so far not quite like the typical XCOM welcome he imagined. Loads of soldiers crowding the hallways and calling for briefings in every direction. But he wondered maybe he arrived on a calm day.

Going through the sliding door to their left they arrived in the barracks, labelling everyone's lockers and another hallway for the sleeping quarters upon noticing threw another question into the recruits head as Godmother pointed to the lockers "Choose yourself a locker, or two if you want plenty of space. Most of the squad does."

"Wow, that's pretty cool but… I'm curious, how big is the squad? Are those the bunk rooms down there?" Aaron began firing multiple questions.

"Yes, there are six bunk rooms for some of the squad. At least a third of the squad must be on site at all times to respond to any emergency which they take in shifts and the rest get to stay at their own accommodation when they aren't on shift! Has the agency provided you with accommodation before you arrived?" Godmother answered before shifting a question of her own back at Aaron.

"Yes, a small apartment at Angler's point. But I thought I wouldn't get to stay there if I'm honest," Aaron divulged.

"Good, Like I said before; One of Reclamations aim's is for us to integrate and seek to support our community. Everyone gets rota'd in and changed to get enough time for themselves. I'll go through the details with you later, but let's drop your stuff and meet the team." Godmother informed, suggesting to Aaron leading him to find a locker in the right corner near one on the left with a name listed as Azelea. Quickly peering, he noticed the names on the lockers taken of Axiom, Blueblood, Reece, and many others, seeing at least over a dozen suggesting a smaller roster than he expected. Godmother watched him as he set his bags into the locker and the next of his choice to leave for the time being before walking back over to her. Motioning to leave the barracks for their trip to meet the rest of the squad.

Well… boom I'm ending it there, sorry, but this chapter has become long that if I added everything into it would become super long, so I am splitting the chapter in half. Sorry I know a lot of you were looking forward to a specific character who I have mentioned often but looks like you are going to be left waiting again… sorry but it will be better this way, I believe. Don't you worry and please don't moan too much at me pit friends haha.

Now this is where I stopped last time and I'm pleased to say im further along now already working on the next chapter which I hope to have news of soon but that one wont be as quick, hope to soon.

I hope you enjoyed and please review and comment on any criticism of enjoyment you have. Thanks guys, see you soon.