The rain poured along the ridges of near non-existent roofs, the wind chilly but filled with relief. It was true, this place is less depressing than my hometown. I walked along the lanes and walkways of this once great city, now nothing but a ruin of the worst description. Communications were cut down a few days ago and everything was amuck. Men were fighting creatures so violent, so fierce so barbaric that it lives to fight and fight alone.

I fought a few alright, though I escaped most by far. It changed me a lot and worse than enough. I had to fake my personality when I got home but a few noticed it nonetheless. I didn't want to go here, I just didn't have a choice. With an irresponsible mother, a playboy father, and four more mouths to feed I had to.

I was scouted by a shady character for a Federal order due to my ability to evade a mob of bullies a while ago. And because I joined, I was receiving large amounts of money and lessons in espionage and martial arts.

After a few years of training, I was sent to this backward planet to observe and report on a current situation. Little did I know of what I was about to find.

Should you ask, then I must answer. My name is nobody, and I'm not just the first.

***

I'm currently looking for an old friend a few hundred kilometers away from that dent of an event a few years ago. Being a full-time agent meant that I'm always at risk every single second. I've taken ten souls due to necessity in my short career, it was without a doubt horrifying. Especially seeing someone you barely knew shout in terrified agony as you swing your sharp knife. Thankfully I'm not alone, I have my friends with me every time. Old friends, the ones you can't forget.

I lay my back in a wall with my hoody and gas mask in tow. In the heavy rain that constantly stings my head and my shoulders. I await his coming, as I've learned a week earlier of his current habit. Good to know he comes here on time.

As boredom dawned and the sunsets. I checked my watch for a sign of luck. My prayer was fulfilled and I await the answer as he approached riding. He stopped thirty paces away from me. Staring as if I were a beast. To be frank, I cannot see his eyes but the way he stood I knew what he meant. I was standing with my back in the wall as his gaze cut off. He must've noticed something off, as he drew a weapon from his holster and aimed at me. I raised my hands in defense, when I felt no longer tense I slowly lowered an arm and took off my mask nice and slow.

I smiled at him and though I knew him for years, learned to never take my assumptions for granted. He would either take his off and smile or take it off but keep a cold face or not at all. But none of those I knew would be worth the take, to those who knew him he would just appear out of nowhere despite being hundreds of miles away a few minutes ago.

I motioned him to join me inside and shelter ourselves from the rain because I'm shivering, I bought the wrong coat. I swear I should've bought the local ones.

He didn't take his mask off as we got in, he acted a bit grumpy and gloomy in that grey coat of his. I followed him, he didn't mind at all. This must be the guy.

We were nearing the room when I noticed him overshot it and drew a key. Despite the urge not to, I asked as I was trained to.

" Andrei? Wasn't this your room?" I asked.

" No, this is. And my name is not Andrey, it's Andrushka."

" Since when did you use that name, Andrei? And what's with the gloomy tone?"

" I told you, my name is Andrushka, not Andrey"

I felt tense at his tone and that near-dead feel of his mask that I drew my Mini-catapult(Needler pistol) by impulse and aimed it at him. Beaten by my speed he withdrew his hand from his and lowered them.

"Prove it!" And without another word, he took his mask off with such speed I barely knew existed.

Those green grass eyes, that dirty gray hair it can't be him. And that face, he never went past that. What went wrong? Did I just stalk the wrong guy all this time?

" Andrei, what the hell happened to you? You don't look like yourself."

SLAP!!! His head lowered as his right hand slapped his forehead, he proceeded to sigh as he looked up.

"I told you didn't I?" He said in frustration.

I was about to speak when a hand gripped my shoulder. It was a firm grip with a cold touch. I felt that touch before, the time I nearly lost my life. I looked straight at the grey hair and he didn't look surprised. It must've been a setup, and now I must be officially dead. They found me, they knew me, and now cornered me.

I closed my eyes awaiting the call when I heard a familiar voice spoke in my ear "Didn't I tell you espionage is not for you!".

I turned my head to my right and saw him smiling. I looked at my right shoulder and saw his near-frozen gloves with vapors ascending.

No wonder why it felt cold.

He hugged me warmly without a word. This side of his I knew for so long, no matter what happens he'll treasure a good friend no matter what.

"It's been a while, Otto."

" Ja, It's been a while, Andrey."

****

"Let me guess? Big bro's here isn't he?"

I just looked at him straight in the eye.

"Apparently I'm not that far off in my predictions."

"He came here since you might need a hand; for some reason, you just can't truly take a rest."

"Is there anything else he might have asked you to do?"

"I'm also here not only to tell you this personally but also because I'm currently searching for a safe house."

"Don't bother, you know the trainfuck that's about to happen right?"

"That's why I'm here."

"You'll need a fort to survive, not some inconspicuous house."

"That is unfortunately overbudget."

"Don't bother, I already had one and I'm willing to lend it for the meantime."

"You bought one?"

"Yup! I had to fork 20% of my savings just for it. But still, it's worth it. It used to be a supply base until it was decommissioned recently so you better expect some wide-open spaces in the basement."

Cheap bastard! Just as always, so stingy about money!

"How is he by the way?"

"He's recovering, he nearly died," I said as I drank the coffee that's about to cool down.

"What's that reckless bastard up to?"

"Five people died though."

He went closer and asked: "Anything else I need to know?"

"You knew none of them at least, they were newbies like I was a few years back."

Both of us went silent at the thought, and just as I looked at the clock. I asked: " Do you think that people like us could at the least get some rest and enjoy a bohemian life?"

"Why'd you ask?"

"Jim's dead."

"When? Didn't he just retire to a different state?"

"He died, stabbed in the john at a club."

"Just after I went here, he died?"

"Pretty much, that's the summary."

"We can, as long as we keep our eyes on our shoulders. That man tended to be extremely callous when not threatened. Perhaps it might actually help if we retire in places close to each other."

"It just might, I hope we can find a place like that here. It's not that easy to find people in hard to reach places. As long as the security access to footage is restricted high enough, we might just live longer as long as we cover our backs."

He smiled as he looked at him as I spoke, The door opened as someone came in.

"Katya! We have company, do you mind joining us?

By the way, How many are here at the moment?"

"Five, all of them new."

"I might need some help with something, It's something about that base I told you."