Rachels POV
We left the store and headed back to raven's home shortly after buying the things I wanted. I had to admit Raven is distant and detached most of the time but inside she really is a good person, even if she wants to pretend otherwise which is a bit odd. The house's that people lived in down here are different from the one's up top. They are smaller and mostly made of a combination of patterented brick and metal on the outside at least, even the rooftops were made of brick and metal. But as raven explained the homes are insulated so people don't cook while they are sitting on the couch.
The air is much cooler due to the four electromagnetic rods standing at the north, south, east, and west part of the city that are maintained mostly by the scavengers for extra pay. The streets are kept relatively clean, trash cans lined the streets as well as dumpsters in the alleyway, we even passed a black and white dump truck with one man hanging on the back and the other driving wearing yellow neon colored suits.
The vicar said two years ago he needed to siphon more power from both the underground and the top city to power certain projects that would help advance both cities but the underground seems to be feeling the brunt of it all.
These people are still going even though they are suffering the most. It's almost like the vicar doesn't care about them the thought made me squeeze ravens waist a little tighter.
'' We're back'' Raven said The only thing different about ravens house it had a thick hard wood door with no intricate design instead of a metal one I have to ask about that later. ''Any word yet'' ''no not yet it may even be a few days before they start contacting and placing people so you don't have to worry'' he looked at me briefly and offered a small smile, I could feel my cheeks heat up as I smiled back.
He really is handsome with a square jaw, Black hair itself parted like two curtains so his forehead was visible it also went down in the back just a in the back with striking gray eyes a stark contrast from his sister but still equally pretty to look at.
We walked on the beige carpet all the way to Ravens room to start the changes, If we really going to be called until a few day then I may as well take this time to relax. Raven immediately got to work on sagira attaching the parts that we bought. ''Alright let's go to the back yard and test them'' raven said I nodded enthusiastically
We crossed the border where the carpet fell off and the smooth hardwood floor just like the door began in the kitchen to the back door. The outside wasn't to different from the front yard in it's vacancy, no trees just green grass and a small scrub off to the right. ''Wait here I'll get some targets'' then her and Ty went back into the house and came back out shortly after. ''We can use these empty soda cans I'll stack them on the ground and you have sagira shoot them one by one''.
Raven walked about ten feet in front of me to lay the cans down and quickly hurried back to stand beside me. ''Okay let's see what this ray can do''. '' Sagira float steady to my right and take fire when I say'' I said firmly as soon as the words left my mouth sagira quickly flew to where I told her. A pen like contraption shot out of them bottom of Sagira's frame and a blue stream of light came out and shined on the left soda can. ''Switch to stun level one'' the beam turned a red color ''FIRE'' a crackling sound came from the laser the a small pulse shot out hitting the can and making a clunking sound while the can flew backwards with spiral flips.
''Not bad lets try it again'' Raven said and I was all too happy to oblige, ''Sagira switch to lethal mode'' the sound of machine whirring around in her frame then the beam of light turned to a darker shade of red ''FIR-'' ''CALLING ALL SCAVENGERS IN THE UNDERGROUND COME TO THE UNDERGROUND HEADQUARTERS AT 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING I REPEAT 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING FOR A EMERGENCY MEETING'' ''so much for a few days'' Raven said irritably.
''Well come on Rachel it's we still have a few more hours before night time'' we shot various other things like cans, bottles and the trashcan itself until kade came out and scolded a smiling raven saying this is the only trash we have until we went to bed that night. Unfortunately with still no word from grandpa. The cool air woke me up from my slumber and I could see the artificial sun still peek far on the other side of the city. Raven insisted I sleep on her bed while she took the floor with a extra blanket and pillow. Though When I peered down though she was gone.
''Raven'' I called hesitantly, from the open door footsteps were coming down the hall at a steady pace. '' yeah what's wrong'' rachel said, she was still in her checkered pajama pants and a black tank top with black hair that hung assymetrical to the left covering her eye but she didn't seem to mind me seeing her like this which was a little comforting.
'' Oh I didn't see you do you always wake up early'' ''yeah it's kind of a habit I developed when I was in school but nevermind that you'll want to get ready we will be leaving in three hours and bring your suit''. After taking my clothes out my bag I went, took a shower then put on my clothes after I slipped my blue jeans over my waist put my black rock and roll shirt and my brown jacket over it I went out and joined raven. I never liked tying my hair so I just let it flow down my back and left the bangs alone as well.
Luckily the suit could compartmentalize itself by folding in on itself in different shapes and sizes for easy storage. Though I don't know how that works so far considering I haven't gotten that far in my courses I am fascinated by how it works.
''Okay are you ready I made us onigiri we can eat on the way since I don't know how long we will be out'' I nodded in response ''okay take your bike and follow me. We made our way to the scavengers guild guild along with everyone else judging from the many people on the road all heading in the same direction. we arrived at a impressing looking complex with three gates in front of the three different buildings that read operations, maintenance, and general.
All of the buildings looked to be made out of concrete with a much smaller version of a glass skyway connecting all three of them, the ground around all the buildings was made of grass and shrubbery all facing the parking lot. Benches and break areas could be seen in the more grassy areas for workers. We veered off to the left side of the giant parking lot to the building that read operations in holographic letters in the front of it.
We hopped off our bikes and headed in. inside we were greeted with one grand stairway that split in two pairs of stairs that went to the left and right to the upper floors, the bottom floor was filled with multiple computers, desks and filing cabinets as well as people typing away at keyboards the inside was mostly at gray color with opaque glass doors leading to different rooms overall the place is on the bland side but but the people made the atmosphere seem very productive and the air itself has that new office smell.
We stood at the bottom of the stairs along with many other scavengers some with suits on some without but these were not all of them. A stern looking man with spiky black hair and a small goatee, muscular with light brown skin and a hawk shaped nose and a stern expression walked down the stairs toward us. Wearing a black shirt with a red x on the front of it and forest green cargo pants and brown boots. ''Alright my fellow scavengers'' the man boomed in a commanding voice ''first off my name is first scavenger James and don't worry about the other scavengers there about to hear the same thing you are in the next building over''.
The other scavengers and employees quieted down. ''The fess have found this place but we are fighting them back starting from here on out we will join them in joint operations in the field since we are the most combatively adept second to the fighters''.
He paused and looked us all in the eyes ''but make no mistake we are scavengers we go out and get what everyone needs to keep this place going from top to bottom be it machinery and technology to medical herbs and food so your primary objective is to find and loot everything every piece helps you kill an enemy take their gun, you overturn a enemy vehicle you take the engine you go into enemy territory you take their resources I don't know how long this will go own but just in case we are in it for the long haul we need everything we can get do I make myself clear'' ''YES SIR'' everyone shouted except raven of course who just gave him a blank look.
''As it stands now we have a scavenge mission to go on a hunt for food and herbs while we do grow or own food meat is hard to come by down here and so I will go by birthdays if I don't call the month of your birthday go to the other scavenger buildings I'm sure they could use the help oh and before I forget'' A sly grin came on his bearded face ''those who do volunteer for extra duty get paid extra we don't work for free remember and I'm sure your family could use it'' cheers and whoops could be heard all around until he signaled for everyone to quiet down.
''When I call out your name head up the left stairs behind me to the office thats says riddick that's my last name and find a chair to sit in I will be with you all once I am done'' He looked down at his clipboard once again.
As he began to call out the months there were moans of complaint and you could feel the trepidation in the air '' july, august'' I could feel sweat coming down my back september, october''my fingers curled around ravens hand a little tighter ''and november'' my birthday is in november, I peered up to raven to find her rare smile and calm blue eyes peering into my own'' '' don't worry my birthday is october so you will have me by your side''.
The pit in my stomach began to fill as raven held my hand and walked up the stairs with the other scavengers. We sat down in brown leather seats in what looked like a meeting room, a ash black table sat in the middle, light Gray walls surrounded us with the tv screen athe end of the table opposite of the glass door we came in. Other scavengers lined the leather chairs across and around us, shortly after james walked in clipboard tucked under his arm and made purposeful strieds to the front of the table and stood just below the tv.
''Alright I realize that some of you may not be as experienced as you need to be but beggars can't be choosers and don't worry I made sure to pair you with veterans so you can consider this your crash course'' some people looked around apprehensively '' you will go in groups of two with another group of fighters waiting near the elevator to take you all up downtown''. '' Emil and Raul you are a team, Jerry and Amy you are a team, Madelyn and Cassandra you are a team, Bellamy and Avery you are a team, his stern eyes finally settled upon us ''Raven and Rachel of course you two are a team'' raven had her a hands clasped behind her head but gave him an empty nod''.
''Alright everyone I will meet you all outside to guide you downtown in my truck I will be in the black one with white stripes and no words also the roads will be cleared so we can head right down'' he promptly exited the room with all of us following behind him.
Once outside we all split apart to go look for our vehicles then a black hover truck with tinted windows and red light coming out the exhaust drove in front of the parking lot. Once we arrived to the elevator there were three other black trucks with fighter written in white on the sides of them waiting for us. ''Is this all of them James another man said into a communicator ''yes and do be careful with them'' James said.
''Careful most of these scavengers have seen combat and some of them have taken some of the fighter course I don't think you have to worry that much even if you do have a few green heads in there''. James smiled down at the communicator and turned back to us ''be careful out there I mean that''.
We were greeted with a few grim expressions but there a few who offered a comforting smile which i offered back. They had there murdock suites on the colors only varied from lighter and darker versions of forest green and camouflage. Ours were a bit different some had colorful ones like blue, green, orange with streaks of white and purple.
Mine is a light blue and Ravens' is a deep red color with streaks of black across her whole body. ''Sorry about sergeant barker he isn't much for introductions but you'll get to know him along the way the name is Ashton by the way'' the blonde man with mischievous sea green eyes looked us over with a soft smile
''Don't worry about it I'm sure he's tons of fun the name is Jerry by the way'' they both reached out and shook hands, jerry gave a toothy grin and rubbed the back of his red hair with his other hand. '' oh and don't be surprised when they tell you that you will have to change the color of your suit to our color at least for a little while'' Ashton said ''well I was spectin that anyway so it won't be no problem for me'' Jerry said.
The communicator we all had began to crackle ''all right everyone this will be s simple food run so let's get this started'' barkers voice came over the speaker which sounded like he swallowed gravel '' nonetheless things can change in a instant so watch your back and take care of each other let the operation commence''.
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