A figure emerged in an empty club, his frame shrouded in darkness as he made his way to the counter which too was empty. Taking a seat, he glanced around him before making three consecutive taps on the wooden table eliciting a figure to walk out from the back.
This man naturally was Reynolds, his nosy prominent feature being the dark obsidian horn protruding from his temple however the lady didn't seem to mind. "Don already?" She taunted to which he brushed it off, looking back at the empty seats. "I see that business is booming." He shot back as he adjusted to his seat.
With the emergence of abominations, the so called adventurers only became less and less. Kingdoms fell left and right into the maw of Redfall, the tension in was thick in not just Reuthar but the other kingdoms as well. Be it human, elven or dwarven. "Oh come on, it's only a matter of time before people start begging to be enlisted for the revered adventurer status."
The two knew that the tales of being an adventurer were long past the world of Arcania. Those who dared to take up the profession would be met with all kinds of tasks, mostly including vanquishing the birth of the horrors from Othare or other beasts of the old world. Technology had made it easier but the fall far outpaced the rate of growth.
His handler poured a glass of wine, wearing a smile that hinted at more. "What's the mission this time?" He mused, swirling the drink in hand before taking a picture light sip. "This one is different from the others. A convoy making it's way to the wastelands." The words making his brow rise with intrigue.
"Two weeks a hit and now again? Do those people truly not fear Redfall's wrath?" Silence was his answer before the doors opened. This time a group of men hauling a body to the back which made his eyes narrow. With the quick glance he took, he noted that the body had it's head completely bashed open, contents hanging out.
However with his profession as an adventure, the sight of blood was nothing new to him as he took another sip of his wine. "Come with me to the back." With a final swig, he rose to his feet and made his way past the counter, opening a small door which revealed an oddly clean hallway.
Making his way to the end, his handler had already called the elevator. "Who's order this is?" The two stepped in before making their way down. "It's confidential but the one who wants this has a very interesting thought. He thinks that he can master the Hine and use it against Redfall...or use it for his own needs."
The sleek elevator doors slid open showing a barely lit set of operating tables. Most of which were empty save for the end of the hall. "Take off your clothes." He hesitated, his brows furrowing. "Why?" Jennifer, his handler didn't bother with the specifics. "Well we can't do an operation with you clothes on, now can we?"
Looking to the next table, Reynolds noticed the body from before however this time something seemed to gleam at the corpse's head. "A chip detonator. Helps when dealing with Hine and this scout didn't make it." Another voice echoed from behind, Reynolds already with his upper torso exposed narrowed his gaze at the man.
"Are you going to put it in my head? What would make you any different from the monsters at Redfall with their Hine?" The doctor reached for a bone saw, indifferent to his question. "We all have one Reynolds, as a man who was once in power, you should know why." And with that he waited for Reynolds to lay on the metallic bed for the operation.
Still, as much as he didn't want to go through with it, he let out a sigh giving in. "This won't take long." The doctor reassured, his words chillingly calm.
...
'Argh!' Reynolds cursed before clutching his head in pain. The corpse gone, now alone in the room, he looked around for another person before rising to his feet. "Damn it!" His exclamation met with a light laugh from the doctor who approached him. "I didn't think that you would be up this early but time is of the essence. Follow me."
Reynolds remained still, his mind loaded with questions. "What does the chip do?" He already had a faint guess of what it was however he hoped that he was wrong. "Well let's say that you are infected with the Hine, then the chip simply turns your brain into mush, your skull torn open before the effects can get too sever."
Reynolds saw this as nothing more than a leash those above could use. "However don't worry, it's only Hine that would trigger the chip, or forced removal as well." The doctor's tone light as if he hadn't said that his words now hang at the thread of the balance with a chip in his skill. 'I don't know whether I would get to live once I Die or not.'
Recalling the first time he acquired his skills, he had managed to dodge death and becoming the monster that he was at the moment. "If you're interested about the chip then it's all about the Hine. When an individual is infected, the brain waves start to take a dive till it reaches a point that would be lethal to a human being but those infected function just fine."
Reynolds sharpened his gaze, frustrated with the situation he had gotten himself into. 'I should have just made my way to Reuthar and confronted Jarren at the time.' He wondered as he balled his fists with rage, eliciting a small grunt that the doctor caught. "I may understand your anger at the matter however your handler agreed that you were more than fine with this."
Still adjusting from the pain, he inwardly cursed at Jennifer before the two made their way back to the elevator. "Oh and this time you won't be doing it all by yourself. Consider yourself lucky." The doctor's words flying past Reynolds who was deep in thought.
'Would that mean that I too am prone to the Hine or not? If so then what would that god do?' Stroking his chin, the sound of footsteps grew louder revealing to b his handler who had a small smile etched on her face. "Come upstairs, it's time for the mission." Her words leaving no room for Reynolds to negotiate.
...
The room drowned in darkness save for the main light illuminating a chic table with contents split all over. Glancing around, Reynolds grew skeptical of the other individuals who too watched hi figure with great interest. "Don't worry, they'll be working with you on this mission." Jessica stated as she reached for the files on the table, her eyes perusing through the pages before handing it over to Reynolds.
"A synthesiser? How sure are you?" The rest didn't seemed baffled with this information, their attention shifting back to the lady who wore a dark and inviting smile. "We've had multiple affirmations on the demonic side of this shipment. It'll be a quick in and out for you and your merry men." Jessica locked eyes with a girl donning a cloak.
"Sorry, and woman." She didn't elaborate any further as she took her leave. Reynolds glanced around, sure that the people he had been dealt with had some form of experience with the work he did. 'Probably mercenaries.' A profession that had too gone into decline save for a few individuals who dared to stand up to the challenge.
"So you must be Reynolds, we've heard much about you." A voice echoed from the corner of the room, the tone light as the source made his way to Reynolds revealing a man with a shaven face, one of his arm prosthetic and his smile knowing before reaching out his hand. He took the gesture, his brows furrowing.
"And who might you be?" His question met with a snicker. "Don't concern yourself too much about that, we have a job to do. Let's just hope that the rumors about you are true." And with that the man left the room, shortly after the rest followed. 'An in and out mission.' With his experience, he knew that such missions would be anything but simple.
'The pay better be worth the hassle.' He cursed as he made his way to the rest.
...
"Target is in sight, just as stated. A convoy of three, the target and the substance should be in the middle carriage." A voice relayed through Reynolds ears, a neat feature of the chip he had been given. "Just make sure that we do this quietly, I don't want any casualties with this one." The man from before commanded.
A cliff not far from the main path hid Reynolds and the leader's figure, not far from their location the girl from before masked her presence and way back another stood, waiting for orders with a sniper rifle gleaming in the moonlight, shrouded with foliage. 'So not only is this prick the leader of this little posse but thinks that taking a carriage will be this simple?'
Reynolds scoffed inwardly, sighing as he would have to take the man's instructions. "Alright, looks like we have to make a move. Reynolds, this is where you step in." His eyes didn't mask his resentment for the man as he stepped out of his cover, making his way to the designated spot. All eyes were now glued to his figure in the shadows.
...
"We have to make a stop." The coachman cooed, his gaze locked onto the man who lay unconscious on the path. "What do you mean?!" A voice came from the middle carriage, annoyed and irritated with the sudden development. "Just deal with it." The coachman stepped off his seat, making his way to Reynolds body as other shadows moved in the darkness.
The girl and the leader taking the initiative as they took down the guards that guarded the rear before making their way to the main carriage. Reynolds took a light peek of the situation, his grit as an ominous feeling took grip from within. And it was then that he heard it. A voice so faint that could have easily been dismissed but he was sure that he had heard it.
*Click*
His pupils dilated in horror as he screamed at the rest of his members. "Fall back! There's a leak of the Hine!" His words were met with disdain as the two made their way to the main carriage. "Now what do we have here?" The coachman asked, his hand reaching to wake Reynolds who cursed at each second that lapsed.
*Slash*
His motions quick as he brought the life of the coachman to an end. A dagger now bathed with blood gleamed in the dead of night. "Get away from the main carriage!" His statement causing the leader and the girl to curse at him. "What are you doing?! Are you trying to jeopardize the mission?!"
*Whoosh*
*Bam*
Midway his dash to the convoy, a huge explosion occurred that covered the entire scene in jade spores. Reynolds as well as the pair donned on their masks but the damage had already been done. The spores began to dig into their exposed skin, dulling their senses and before they knew it, their heads were turned into mush as the chips went off.
Reynolds realizing that the situation was no longer worth salvaging backed away, black feathered wings growing from his back before taking flight a safe distance away from the convoy. A prize he had gotten from one of his hunts. Four guards emerged from the main carriage, their hands wielding firearms he wasn't prepared for.
"Damn it!" His curses met with murmurs of shock from the guards who tried to gauge his location. The sniper who was laid back horrified with what had transpired as Reynolds's figure landed beside him. "We have to leave, now!" He didn't wait for the man to respond as he took his figure and flew back to base.
His hair bellowing in the wind, his mind drowning in thought of what would be the reaction back at base. 'Why didn't those two just listen to me?!' His muses met with silence save for the man who frantically begged to be placed down as his figure disappeared into the night sky.