Date: May 16, 2020 - 12:14 pm

Location: Small island in the Caribbean Sea

Dungeons do not always manifest in populated city centres. Some have appeared as far as 80 km away from the nearest human settlement. In this case, an orange portal appeared about a kilometre away from the beach of a small Caribbean island with a population of less than 3000 people. No military was mobilized to deal with the situation and a pair of destroyers were on standby in order to bombard the island if the Dungeon monsters overran it. Despite the “ultimatum” issued to the island’s inhabitants, the majority of the population did not evacuate. Many waited in their homes and prayed, while others crowded around the police barricade set up around the portal. Many of the police were like-minded with the rest of the inhabitants and did not stay behind due to orders.

Other than the island's populace, there was one other person at the police barricade. This man was Juan Ramirez, a low-level official of the Earth Alliance. His job there was to ensure that guidelines were followed and that there was no reckless or dangerous behaviour regarding the portal or the Dungeon. However, no other staff was sent alongside him to ensure compliance. This was due to both a lack of personnel due to the sudden resurgence of portals and to the belief that it would have been a simple process. He was just there to make sure that an orderly evacuation was underway and that proper measures were being implemented regarding either clearing the Dungeon or dealing with the aftermath of an Outbreak. In his opinion, neither was happening and he was yet to receive a proper response from the complaint he filed.

As Mr. Ramirez continued to wait for an update as the Dungeon Outbreak time neared, another outsider arrived at the police barricade. It was a young woman wearing something similar to combat fatigues, sunglasses and a red beret. She had short black hair and poking out from the edges of her clothes one could see burn scars that likely ran down her shoulders, back, and arms. She wore a fierce smile on her face as she confidently strolled up to the barricade. A few of the officers went over to stop her but she ignored them. The police did not become hostile in their attempt to block her way and merely spread their arms out and told her to please move away. After looking at her for a few seconds, Mr. Ramirez realized who she was. He quickly ran over, fearing the worst.

“Miss Madrazo?!” he called out to the young woman. She turned to face him.

“Who’s asking?” she asked, still grinning.

“Miss Madrazo, I know why you are here. However, the government has not organized any attempt to clear this Dungeon. Also, you have not been authorized under special measures to attempt to clear this Dungeon on behalf of the Earth Alliance. Therefore, you must move away.” Mr. Ramirez did not feel the need to also spout on about the international warrants made for her arrest. Right now, he was just doing what was required of him by his job, but without putting his life at too much risk, however strange that seemed.

“What’s the problem? You guys aren’t doing anything about it right now, so what’s the harm in me wanting to just go inside?” One of the officers, who didn’t actually know who she was, raised his gun to shoo her away. Mr. Ramirez immediately went over to put his hand on the officer’s arm.

“Miss Madrazo, I, on behalf of the Earth Alliance, ask that you please respect the Uniform Guidelines. We understand your value and appreciate the contributions you have made towards Dungeon clearing. However, it is essential that the process of Dungeon clearing remains a cooperative effort between all the member nations of the Earth Alliance. Please, cease your unilateral intervention.” Okay, that’s it. I’ve done the full spiel, he thought. If she still wants to go in, there is no way in hell I’m stopping her then.

“Well, it shouldn’t be a problem if I clear the Dungeon on the EA's behalf then?” Just after Sierra spoke, Mr. Ramirez’s phone rang. He immediately picked it, taking his first opportunity to leave this situation.

“Hello? …What? …Really? Okay, I understand.”

“So, I’ll just go in now?” Sierra asked, mostly rhetorically. Mr. Ramirez sighed heavily. Alright, one last time.

“Miss Madrazo, I have just received an update. The Earth Alliance is currently transporting a Dungeoneer to handle the C-rank Dungeon on this island. As such, you may not, in any way, interfere with the Earth Alliance’s measures in handling this Dungeon. If you do, you can expect to receive sanctions despite your previous contributions. This is your only warning.” The police looked at Mr. Ramirez after he said this. He tried to slightly shake his head, as if to alert them that he was just saying this because he had to, and not because he expected them to actually stop her.

“Someone is coming here? Who?” Sierra asked.

“Oh…they didn’t actually give me a name.”

“Is it just one Dungeoneer?”

“Uh…I think so…” Sierra looked intrigued.

“Okay, fine. I won’t clear the Dungeon.”

“...what?”

“Do you know when they’ll be here?”

“Yeah, they said about two and a half hours.”

“And when is the Outbreak?”

“The Outbreak time? 2:01 pm.” Wait a minute.

“I see.”

“Please wait right there, Miss Madrazo.” Mr. Ramirez then turned to the officers. “The Earth Alliance is sending a Dungeoneer that will arrive in about two and a half hours. Please, do you think you can try again to get the remaining populace to at least evacuate to the far side of the island away from the portal.”

“We already told you we tried, but the ones that haven’t already followed the evacuation insist on remaining in their own homes.”

“The Dungeoneer will not be here before the Outbreak occurs.”

“They had already made their decisions even before hearing that the Earth Alliance would send anyone. I will send some people over again to inform them of the news, but don’t expect anything different. They know about the destroyers, and they still stay here.”

“This damn…” Mr. Ramirez caught himself before saying anything else. Commenting on the political situation and this particular island was way beyond his pay grade. “Alright, thank you.” The officer nodded and he gave out the orders.

“Seems tense. Need some help?” Sierra asked. Mr. Ramirez let out another sigh.

“I am sorry, Miss Madrazo, but you are not permitted to enter this Dungeon. Please follow evacuation procedures.”

“Hey, now. Telling me what I can do about the Dungeon is one thing, but do you think you can tell me where to go?” Sierra asked with a small smile.

“Alright, just…just don’t do anything.”

“I’m not even allowed to defend myself?”

“Are you seriously planning to just wait here until the Outbreak occurs?”

“I’m not the only one.” Mr. Ramirez wanted to hit himself in the head. Was there even a point to this conversation?

“Okay, whatever. Yeah, you can defend yourself after the Outbreak occurs. Just don’t…just don’t cause any trouble for anyone else here, okay?”

“Alright. So, I’m allowed to fight the monsters then, after the Outbreak.”

“Yes,” Mr. Ramirez replied, tiredly, “as long as you do not interfere with the evacuation or the Earth Alliance’s efforts in dealing with this situation.”

“Alright, I can wait.” Sierra took out a folding chair from her Inventory and sat down beside the barricade. The officers looked at Mr. Ramirez, who shook his head again, silently telling them not to bother.

“Were you expecting this to happen?” Mr. Ramirez asked, not really caring about the answer.

“Well, I just thought it’d be nice to carry something like this around.”

“Right.” Sierra took out her smartphone and started reading something. “What are you looking at?”

“Just checking the news. I’m wondering which Dungeoneer is coming over.”

“Well, I could call them to confirm.”

“No, I want to be surprised.”

“Right…hey, how did you get on this island anyway?”

“I’d love to tell you but…”

“But what?”

“I think I might get some more criminal allegations added against me,” Sierra replied, very matter-of-factly. Mr. Ramirez stared at her blankly. Then, he just turned around. Yeah, I don’t care, he thought.

*************************************************************************************************************

A couple minutes before the Outbreak, Sierra got out of her seat and put the folding chair back inside her Inventory. She went up to Mr. Ramirez who just got off the phone.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” she said to him.

“Yeah, me too,” he replied, glancing around at the vacant barricade, the police already evacuating themselves about five minutes ago. “My duty as an Earth Alliance representative is to make sure you don’t violate the guidelines.”

“I’m surprised to see one of you EA guys so committed to your job. I always hear all sorts of bad things about you.”

“I’m just doing my duty.” This was not the whole truth. Juan Ramirez obviously was not a man of impeccable commitment nor one intending to meet some high standard of an honourable duty. However, he had to at least pretend like that was the case. He pretended he was like that and his passion helped him get his job at the Earth Alliance despite his lack of technical and administrative skills, which have hardly improved at all. As far as he knew, he was on thin ice and his superiors or peers were just looking for a reason to fire him. His only defense so far has been to keep the facade going and to make a favourable impression whenever possible when he interacts with any other persons or organizations working with the Earth Alliance.

“Well, I’ve seen some stupidly reckless people…a lot of them actually, but you seem alright. At least compared to most of them.” Sierra started walking over to the portal.

“Miss Madrazo, it doesn’t matter if there is less than two minutes until the Outbreak, you cannot enter the portal without permission.”

“You can call me Sierra.” Mr. Ramirez walked over to her, very reluctantly, as he was eyeing his car parked a little ways away that would serve as his getaway soon. “Right, I didn’t get your name yet.”

“It is Juan Ramirez, Miss Madrazo.” Just another minute and he could book it. Hold on, nobody else other than him and Sierra Madrazo are here. Who would report him if he just left right now?

“Hahaha, you’re a funny one, Juan. You talk a lot more than Santiago as well.” Who’s Santiago? “I hope you’re still alive after this. I like talking to people about Dungeons.”

“Uh, yeah, sounds good,” he replied absent-mindedly, now starting to back away.

“What kind of Dungeon do you think this one will be? I read that there is more than one type of C-rank Dungeon.”

“Wish I could tell you, Miss Madrazo.”

“I said you could call me Sierra.”

“Right, sorry, Sierra.” Mr. Ramirez was still facing Sierra, but he was looking at his watch and not her. “Ten more seconds. Whatever you do, don’t forget everything I said about the Uniform Guidelines.” Sierra laughed again.

“You know, maybe I’ll finally read them.” The area around them shook and Mr. Ramirez sprinted to his car. Ah shit, why didn’t I leave the engine running! He quickly started up the car as beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. “See you later, Juan!” Sierra called out as she suddenly entered the orange portal.