Chapter 1 Reset: On A Knifes Edge (Part 5)

(Charwin)

The shock of what happened still flashes through me, terrorising my mind. One second I was happily chatting away to my new friend Crescent the next he’s rushing towards me like a bulldozer on steroids. Still struggling to clear my dazed head, I hear the final sounds of what I assume to be gunfire piecing through and ricocheting around the lavished mansion. Finally my vision clearing up I look from underneath the body covering me and see the horrors of war, bodies scattered with holes coving their abdomen and legs. Beneath then puddles of blood soaked the carpet with unidentifiable pieces of flesh that I dread to even think about. Struggling to adapt to the new found silence, only interrupted by the groans of the damned, I hear the body above me release slight grunt. In apprehension I look at the surrounding limbs covering me and notice that a wound about the size of a child’s hand stands out from his left arm, Crescent’s arm... It pours blood out like a waterfall spreading it over the left hand side of my body. Struggling to move I hear a deep, cold but reassuring voice tell me “Don’t move, we’re not safe yet!”.

Complying with the voice above I freeze like a block of ice. Suddenly cold hard steps enter through the entrance, the surrounding witnesses cry out in pain “Help, help is here.” “Quickly over here I’m wounded please help me.”. I hear in my surroundings a orchestra of voice all crying for attention and help. Inspired by the masses I take a deep breath in my panicked state and prepare to call out. Only to be interrupted by a large warm hand pressing against my lips “ Shush you really don’t want to draw attention right now”. Confused and scared I get ready to retort, only to be interrupted by the steps approach a voice crying out for help. Suddenly everything went still as I heard a cruel commanding voice state “fire”. A dozen guns respond to the call, barking balls of lead and fire. Shivering in fear I wait in silence for the only person I can rely on right now, Crescent!

(Switched Point Of View)

In a lavished mansion only tarnished by the excess of blood and flesh dripping onto the ground an interesting scene was taking place. Men in military uniforms marched amongst the bodies with a cold precision. Like tempered steel their faces revealed nothing. As one of the men turned over a bloodied body a groan pierced the air, taking a short glance at the man next to him, who replied in a cold voice “Johnny you know the drill, I know it’s difficult but it’s them or us and I for one ain’t planning on giving them an excuse to shoot me for insubordination anytime soon!”

Steeling himself Johnny aim the barrel of his AKM and pulled the trigger with an unflinching gaze. All around the mansion similar scenes where being carried out. In a room hidden slightly off to the side two soldiers approached the last bodies they had yet to search. A young woman with a man draped across her lay concealed slightly in the shadowy corners of the bar. Letting out a heavy sigh as he prepared to desecrate the young couples bodies the soldier approached as his partner flanked him merely half a meter away.

Suddenly the supposedly dead corpses exploded into action as Crescent swiftly expanded his arms, grabbing two shards of shattered glass that had fallen from a nearby mirror he leapt from the ground, arms extended in a lethal throat stab. The soldiers startled by the corpses reaction, struggled to process what was happening. Through instinct built up over a couple of years of apocalyptic hardship and war they attempted to dodge to the side. Unfortunately they were no heros or protagonist and definitely not enhanced in anyway. Thus the the two shards merrily continued on there journey, only slightly deviating from a central throat cut too the jugular vein which was brutally opened by the jagged edges of the glass. More blood spurted onto the crimson carpet.

Still dripping with the blood of his enemies Crescent stood up. Looking at the soldiers still chocking on their own blood he knelt down, scavenging the two AKMs from their bodies he quickly dragged them behind the bar, hoping to buy a few more seconds if someone discovered them now.

Quickly running over to Charwin he stumbled a bit due to both blood loss and the beautiful face he was staring at, a face that belonged to Charlotte Goodwin! I mean sure he had his suspicions but still... Despite the situation he was in a small smile broke out on his face. Charlotte gently tried to right herself still suffering from a lack of blood circulation from the weight pressing down on her limbs a few minutes ago. Resting a hand on Crescent for support she slowly manage to maintain a more convenient position.

(Crescent)

Looking around at his surroundings, he admired the produce of his work. Two men down and another ten un-alerted guys to go. Never underestimate surprise, especially if you happen to possess two grenades and a couple of AKMs. Awoken from his thoughts by the slight tugging on his shoulder he looked over and saw Charwin, or perhaps Charlotte he should call her now, looking at him in askance. Smiling at her a plan began to form in his mind...

(Third Person)

Within the central hall of the mansion a group of 8 soldiers crowded around an ancient round table. Two remained on looking, their sharp hawk eyes lurking on any suspicious vehicles or people who sought to infiltrate. “Captain have we located the target yet?” A stern soldier asked. “No we still have two men out looking for her, or her corpse!” The Captains strong voice resounded throughout the building. A third soldier voice his concerns in shaky voice. “Captain we should send out more men, you know we only have a couple more minutes before the internal security force arrives.” . “Silence, we only....” The captains voice loudly declared only to fade away at the arrival of two of their comrades. “Jerkins, Rodny where on this damn planet have you been searching, we need to go now did you acquire the proof we need?” The captain asked in a slightly joyful tone as he eyed “Jerkins” full hands. Suddenly an unfamiliar voice came out of “Jerkins” mouth “Of course we did captain, here it is, catch!”. Two grenades came flying towards the group, the captain reacted with professional actions, quickly dashing forward he slapped aside one of the grenades with the butt of his rifle. Unfortunately it went flying towards one of the lookouts. Two soft clicks were heard as a couple of bright balls of fire and shrapnel exploded causing havoc.

Quickly Crescent, dressed in Jerkins uniform, aimed his rifle at the remaining lookout during the confusion. Lead promising pain and damnation shot forward, penetrating the chest of the man. Everything happened so fast, one second there was a group of ten men standing there the next, a pile of burnt corpses full of holes. Crescent strode back slowly to Charlotte, filled of no small amount of pride and triumph. As he was less than a meter and a half away out of the corner his eye he saw the dying captain lining up the barrel of his gun in Charlotte direction.

Quickly screaming out in anger and rage Crescent charged towards Charlotte, no way was he going to let all his hard work be for nothing. Jumping with his last burst of energy he pushed her out of the way, however this isn’t like the movies, where the main character heroically saves the princess, getting away scott free. Nooo this is reality and realities a pain sometimes, especially when the world doesn’t only revolve around you... No matter how special you are...

(Crescent)

I watched as lead bullets burst from the captains rifle, streaming through the air with a terrifying vigor. Almost like the world slowed down I watched as they punctured my chest, arms and legs. I counted 13 rounds the captain managed to get off on his dying breath, with 5 of them brutally smashing my left leg, lower and upper chest and right arm. As the cold hard reality rushed back at me, hitting like a hangover on steroids, I watch as city branded soldier burst through the doors and storm an already safe building. Darkness began fading onto my eyes, I thought deliriously of the awards these loser would get for “successfully” rescuing a “Goodwin”....

For the next ten...no hour.........Sigh I don’t even know anymore. I’ve been drifting in and out of consciousness. Only recently have I started hearing voice every now and again. I sense another disturbance in my hearing.

“How........condition?”...”He’s.....stabilise......better......we need to put him......nanite solution............repair structural damag.....”. Listening to the scattered bits and pieces I hear a female voice enter my ear “Daddy you have to........... what do you....mean.....I want be able to meet him aga.......is he gonna be........” “My little Charlotte.........he’s going to have to be put in a VAC it’s for his own........you might meet him again in the gam........besides he’ll be supported by the best technol............e have............people

would sell their own.........for a chance at.......98% character integrat.......even....e’ll....only get 51% integration” Finally one last stern voice enters my ear, distinctly different from the others “Alright sir I’m going.......put him....... initialise.....sequence.....6.....3......2...1. Suddenly I’m hit with a wave of blackness, losing my consciousness I fall into a dark pit.

Finally after an eternity I start, cracking open my eyes see massive glowing golden letters take up my vision.

Welcome To The Game