The next day, Marcus logged back in and found himself back in the middle of the market. He had changed back to his newbie clothes before he logged out and checked the time and saw that he was early. Smelling the smoke lingering in the air, Marcus followed the scent and ordered himself a meal.

Attention! Your ranking in the leaderboards remains unchanged the previous day. You are awarded:

+1 Fame (Pistol CQB Course)

+2 Fame (Rifle CQB Course)

“You look like you've had a good day, young man. Maybe a good night?” She greeted, smiling.

“I had a windfall yesterday," Marcus replied, "But I was too tired to celebrate and so I thought to do it today instead. Then I remembered you, thinking that I should start the day the same way with one of your meals. Maybe it's good luck."

“You keep that up and I’ll be expecting a cut.” She replied, tossing a wet marinated skewer into the grill. It sizzled, throwing a thick cloud of smoke making the scent of grilled meat even stronger.

“Come on! Isn't a meal a day not enough?" Marcus replied, taking a seat by the side, watching as the shopkeeper cooked his meal. Fire licked at the edge of the meat, charring it. Marcus salivated at the sight, only to be distracted as a man took the stool next to him. He didn't need to look to know it was Columbus.

“You should know that people have noticed and are starting to look for you,” Columbus said. Raising his hand, attracting the attention of the old lady, he pointed at Marcus. “I'll take what he’s having.”

Marcus shrugged. “Well, I was just going to take the rifle out for a spin but I got carried away. Besides, they wouldn't look for a newbie.”

“That’s true. Everyone is assuming that someone breaking two records in a day should have been high level. Now, a hunt is on to find the player Hartdegen into their group or clan. They're seeing it as an open invitation and being in the leaderboards as a way to advertise your skill. I even caught a couple of the bigger guilds sending representatives to take a look. Surprisingly, no one seems to have found him.”

Marcus grinned, "Maybe someone had gotten to him first." he said, just as his order arrived. “Honestly, I wasn't expecting that kind of fallout to happen. Would that be a problem?”

“Unlikely,” Columbus replied as he took his own order.

“So, are we good?” Marcus asked, taking the first bite off the meat.

“I have everything we need nearby or on hand. We will stop by Stoner’s for the rest of the utilities. How about you, are you ready?”

“Well rested, well-fed and everything. I even got a good set of practice last night, got me familiarized with the rifle.” Marcus answered. “I’m just here for the buffs and because I like the taste.” He said taking another bite. “It's a lot better than a nutrient bar.”

“You don't have to worry about buffs, I also brought stims for the exact reason,” Columbus answered, mirroring Marcus. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“You're the boss. Just no private stuff."

“Are you really a newbie, or are you a pro who just jumped into the game?"

“The first one. I only just got this game and just booted it this morning,” Marcus answered. “You couldn’t get any fresher than that.”

Colombus watched him. “That’s fine.”

The two settled on a content silence as they both finished their meals. Marcus cleaned up after himself and returned the plates to the old lady who returned with a smile. Columbus did the same.

“Thank you for the good meal,” Columbus said.

“Yeah. It was good. I’ll be back for it again old lady.”

"See you later."

The two left the stall with a friendly wave from the lady. The two made their way for the level below. Curious, Marcus asked, “Is it good? Or did you just say that for the relations?”

“What do you mean?”

“The meat.” Marcus clarified. “Was it good?”

“It was fine.” Columbus waved off, then continued, “You can say it was the best tasting barbecue I had here, but I had better.”

Shaking his head, Marcus could only reply. “Good for you.”

“Again. Since you'll be fighting mobs that are at a higher level than yours, you’ll have to get consistent criticals with the weapon. That means headshots or center mass. Pair your superior aim and some armor-piercing ammunition, it will guarantee that you will be able to punch well above your current weight class. Here’s your ammo and I’ll keep the rest of the ammunition with me since I’ll just be your donkey for the moment until I shouldn't have to anymore. Understood?”

[Equipment] Earpiece headgear Face Cover Chest Rig Radio Tactical Headset Ballcap [Empty] Universal Chest Rig

(8 Slots) Multiband Radio (Encrypted) Eyes Ballistic Glasses Backpack Special Assault Pack Water Bladder Pouch (1L) Primary MDRX Clothing Khaki Pants, Gray Shirt, Scarf Secondary [Empty] Holster Scabbard M1911 Ka-Bar Weight Armor rating Shield 26/28 Kg 0 400 [Inventory] Primary Secondary Pistol

MDRX

Wt: 5.14 Kg

[Empty] M1911

Wt: 1.21 Kg Pockets Assault Pack Universal Chest Rig (8 Slots) 5.56x45mm M855A2 120 Rnd Bandolier x6 10 Rnd 5.56x45mm M855A2 Stripper Clips x4 20Rnd Box 5.56x45mm Hollow points x6 50 Rnd .45 ACP FMJ +P Water Canteen Dry Rations Pockets Assault Pack Universal Chest Rig (8 Slots) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) PMAG GEN 3 Windowed (30/30) M1911 Mag (7/7) x2 RGD-5 Grenade x2 Flares x2 (Looped, Secure) Wt: 28.8/29 Kg

The two stood in the back of the Armory, relatively empty at this time of day. Marcus had changed into this attire, a pair of desert khakis, a gray collared shirt, and a ballcap. Add the shemagh on his neck, he looked like a mercenary escorting a VIP in the middle of a warzone. Correction, Marcus thought, cosplaying would be a better description.

“Let's do this.” Marcus nodded. Feeling a bit excited at the notion of getting out of the ship and finally getting some action.

Columbus nodded. “Follow me.”

“Good luck and keep safe!” Stone called with a wave to which both men returned.

They left the armory with Columbus in the lead, armed with a 12 gauge shotgun, his pack was laden with all the supplies he could expect for both of them to need. If Marcus was correct, the amount of credits that have been sunk into his gear was enough to cover Marcus’s monthly allowance from his social security.

For a second, Marcus wondered whether it would be worth it to just pop Columbus in the head once they get out of the safe zone and take everything for himself. He immediately stamped at the thought, knowing that his long-term business with the man would far outweigh what he would gain in the short term.

Columbus led the way towards the obscurer parts of the ship. They passed through winding corridors, side passages, and avenues that Marcus would be surely lost if not for Columbus. As for the man himself, Columbus was far from concerned and the confident way he took turns made it well known that he knew the location like the back of his hand.

Steadily, they went lower and lower through the levels of the ship. They used access stairs and utility ladders as the elevators were not powered this deep into the ship. The further they went, the halls grew darker as hall lights failed from lack of maintenance and they had to stop and keep silent, listening for anyone that might be trailing them.

“Only a few people had the patience of going this far into the ship,” Colombus said in a whisper. “Most of the ones that do try and explore these halls never end up getting back.”

“Someone killing them?” Marcus asked, also in a whisper.

Columbus nodded. "The players curious enough to take a look give up after being lost and dying a few times. I suspected it was a quest the moment I heard about the rumors and set out to find out the truth. It took me a few failures along the way, but I believe there is a facility underneath the ship and it is the reason the ship crashed in the middle of the city and not in the open."

“It better be worth it then huh. All this effort and shit you put in.” Marcus muttered, periodically checking behind them as they walked.

“Most players enjoy the game by killing mobs and each other. As for me, I find my own enjoyment in discovery. As a result of that, I sometimes poke my nose in another group's secret."

"Is that why those dudes in the armory gave you the stink eye?"

"Yes, exactly."

Marcus grunted, and the two continued down the halls. The dimly lit hallways descended into total darkness and Columbus had to light their way with a red filtered flashlight. Marcus, in return, would light their rear in random intervals as to keep sure that no one followed, or were hunting them this deep into the bowels of the ship.

Once in a while, the ship would emit a groaning sound as steel creaked under the thousands of tons of ship pressing down on it. After the sound, the ship would fall quiet, reminding Marcus of a cave. “You know, I used to know someone like you describe. An extreme explorer type of guy.” He said.

“Used to? What happened to him if I may ask.”

“He died,” Marcus replied. “He went to some underwater cave system to map and explore it but never came back. His family had to bury an empty coffin since they couldn't find anyone willing to bring his body back."

Columbus went quiet for a while, then asked. "Why would you tell me this?"

"I don't know." Marcus replied, "he just popped into my head. Couldn't just forget the guy. He was great."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Yeah. I never really understood why he did it." Marcus shrugged. "Maybe you do. Fuck." He shook his head. "I don't know. Sorry for not keeping my head in the game."

"It's fine. There was no harm done." Columbus replied, and the two fell back into silence. They continued on for a few more minutes until Columbus suddenly stopped and pointed his light into a hole in the wall.

“Over here. Into this maintenance crawlspace. I hope you're not claustrophobic." Colombus said, taking his pack off and throwing it ahead into the hole and following after it.

"Fuck." Marcus muttered, he took off his pack and threw it ahead of him, following Columbus. It was tight. Marcus had to crawl on his belly with his rifle in his hand just to fit. Looking ahead, he could only see Columbus' light peeking at the edge of his backpack. He could feel the initial onset of claustrophobia coming in when he felt hands grab him and pull him out of the maintenance tunnel. Quickly, rolled into his back and raised his rifle, flicking the light on to see Columbus' face looking down on the barrel of his rifle.

Realizing his mistake, he turned off the light and pointed the barrel away from his employer. Standing to his feet, he muttered, "Sorry, about that. You can say that I got kind of edgy."

"I understand," Columbus replied, turning his light to show the room they were in. It looked to be some sort of storage room. Shelves were stacked into one side in a heap as Marcus noticed that the room was sloping down to one end.

“It's through there, I locked the door for it to just open to me.” He said, pointing to the only door leading into the room and punched a long line of codes into the pad. It had been gutted, with wires running down into the floor where it connected to some sort of battery.

With a beep, the door unlocked, followed by the whirring of the magnetic locks. With a grunt, Columbus swung the door open while Marcus raised his rifle to cover.

Marcus was the first inside the next room where there was a massive crack into the ground, the steel decking sheared as if it was just a piece of bread.

Pale light seeped from underneath. Marcus looked down the crack to see both earth and broken concrete. Down below, it looked to be another room with a bright fluorescent light illuminated what Marcus could identify as a pair of metal tracks held together by concrete pads.

“We’ll rappel down and we’ll find a rail tunnel. It should be safe enough for the both of us to get down.” He said. "I can lower you if you cannot do it yourself."

"I rappelled down a wall once." Marcus answered, "I think I can figure it out. You'll have to tie me down though."

“Understood.” Colombus nodded. “Spread your arms then, so I could rig you a line.”

Marcus followed as instructed and was the first down the hole. Kneeling down, he unslung his rifle and checked the tunnel both ways. The tunnel was wide, about 20 yards, and was double vaulted with a central pylon support at intervals.

Looking both ways, it was empty save for the rail lines that stretched out far into the tunnels.

Their packs came second, lowered by Columbus and followed by him last. He retrieved the rope by pulling it down on one end. Columbus then coiled the rope before stowing it in a bag and leaving it on location.

Marcus looked up at the wall. "I guess there's no going back through there huh."

"The point of no return." Columbus grinned. It was the first time Marcus ever saw the man wear the expression. "Doesn't it excite you?"

"That grin is creeping me out." Marcus answered, "It's so unlike you. But yeah, it kinda does. Though I'm more looking forward when the bullets start flying both ways."

Columbus nodded. He pointed at one end of the track, “We go that way, the other path stretches for about a kilometer until it is blocked by a cave-in. Likely brought by the ship when it landed on top of whatever this facility is.”

“Got it, boss,” Marcus muttered, shouldering his pack and leading the way.

They continued down the tunnels, sticking to the center pylons as it was the only piece of cover. "Hey, boss. Didn't you say you had to fight your way in these tunnels?"

"I did." Columbus answered, "And I'm just as stumped as you."

They continued on, weary of ambushed until the answer presented itself in a form of a closed bulkhead. A massive steel door rolling on steel wheels stood defiant to anyone hoping passage. Marcus looked up at the monolithic gateway, wondering what the hell they should do now.

"This was opened the last time," Columbus muttered, looking around. "We're in luck." He said, pointing, "there's a panel here. Give me time and I'll be able to hack it." He said, running to the wall where a small display recessed into the concrete.

"Take your time," Marcus muttered, holding his rifle at the ready. Seeing no place where enemies would come in, Marcus lowered his rifle and pulled out a pack of smokes.

"The way you smoke, I'm guessing you had the same habit in real life too?" Columbus asked as he opened up the panel and inserted probes into the circuitry. "I suppose it made sense that you took that flaw in your character, seeing as it is natural to you.”

“Yeah." Marcus chuckled. "You're right. How about you, what's your flaw?”

Columbus chuckled. “Sorry, that’s not how this works.”

“Fair.” Marcus replied, taking a drag, “It's not like I’m keeping it a secret either.”

The two fell in silence while Columbus worked on the panel and Marcus took watch. A while later, the panel beeped, the screen flickering into life. Columbus pressed at the buttons, and the machine responded with an audible click, followed by a machine whirr as the motors turned on. Rusty gears ground against each other, uttering an ear-splitting squeal as the multiton door slowly swung open.

A small gap opened between the doors. Marcus stepped forward to take a peek only for a warm draft to come through the slit. Marcus could see nothing but darkness then recoiled from the smell coming from the other massive room. He backed away, coughing as he took a lungful of the most horrid air he had breathed in his life. Gagging, he pulled the shemagh over his nose, then aimed his rifle forward, expecting for something to come charging.

They waited. One minute. Two minutes, but none came. Columbus and Marcus exchanged glances and nodded. Marcus stepped forward while it was not Columbus' turn to check their rear.

Howls echoed ahead of them, inhuman, savage. Able to bring forth humanity's primal fear. It was followed by four-legged figures running towards them. Their forms barely illuminated by the weapon light, with the distance between them, could only be seen as vague silhouettes. Marcus flicked off the safety. "Point of no return," he muttered under his breath.