Log entry 1

Agent: UNKNOWN

Elysium district, Halcyon city, Time: 0200 hours, Date: 23/04/2144

Status: Standby

Halcyon was beautiful and try as you might deny it when the sun dipped below the horizon, and the lights came on, you couldn’t help but gawk at the marvelous show that lit up the night. The skyscrapers that littered the city were like glow sticks, neon signs enticed you to spend money at any form of establishment, even spotlights shined like beams trying to pierce the darkness above. People in space could probably identify the mega-city like a pimple on someone’s nose.

For Alex, the past couple of days had been pretty boring. His first week back in Halcyon after nearly four years abroad and all he’d done was hold himself up in his father’s study reading or mindlessly using his computer.

Though he was happy to finally be back in the city he’d been born and raised in, he’d also been a bit sad to return to his boring life here. After all, he’d just spent the last couple of years studying at one of the best schools of technology in the world. And for a guy like Alex, who was a huge techy, leaving that behind was pretty heart-rending.

He sighed and shifted around his sheets. He’d gotten into bed sometime around ten p.m, but his eyes refused to stay shut. It was like this every night since he’d been back; all this inactivity was really starting to affect him, as his brain tried to expend all it’s stored energy. So, like every night, he just stared at the ceiling of his bedroom, oblivious to the hours that passed until his body finally gave in to fatigue and he fell asleep.

‘THUD’

Alex sat up straight and turned on his bedside lamp almost instantly. The light illuminated his small room and revealed a dark figure lying face-down on the floor in front of his opened window. Though it was often advertised that it was better to sleep with a fan on than sleep with your window open, Alex much preferred to enjoy the natural cool air of the night, than get one of those noisy machines. And after all, he did live in an apartment. Seventy-seven stories off the ground. Who is the there right mind would attempt something that insane? Well, apparently the person on the floor, clutching his chest in pain and panting like he’d just ran a marathon.

His shock finally subsiding, Alex opened his mouth to scream, but the intruder waved his hand in a gesture not to. “Alex…” the intruder’s voice came through ragged breaths, further obscured by some sort of mask. “Alex…It’s me”

The intruder got to his feet and stared at him, his chest steadily starting to rise and fall at a normal pace. He was male judging from his physique and tone, but his voice nagged at Alex’s memory. He was familiar, that was for certain. The intruder wore a long sleeve, hooded jacket, unzipped to reveal a strange set of undergarments. His undershirt, pants, and boots all looked similar as if they were all part of some sort of uniform, but they looked strangely dense as if made to take a punch. A thought crossed Alex’s mind. 'Is that body armor?’

"Long time no see, eh buddy,“ the intruder said, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

Alex drew a blank and raised an eyebrow "uuhhh… Hey?”

The intruder chuckled as he removed his mask, revealing a young man, no older than seventeen, with dark-toned skin, blond hair and a mischievous looking smile. Alex’s eyes widened as he recognized his intruder. In a flash, Alex threw off his covers and ran at him with a bear hug

"Jason!“ he cried in disbelief.

It had been years since he’d last seen his best friend, and while not as affectionate as he was, Jason gave him a pat on the back and a nod of his head, both seeming to cause quite a bit of discomfort.

"Easy. Kinda banged up” said Jason

Alex pulled away from his friend and smiled, but there were still a ton of questions he was yet to ask. “Why are you here. Are you a burglar now? How did you even get up here through the window? This place is over fifty stories off the ground.”

Jason smirked. “Alright, alright. Firstly; No, I’m not a burglar. Secondly; You should know that I have my ways of getting into places I’m not supposed to be in. And lastly; as for why I’m here. Well,” a deep breath “Why don’t you tell me how you’ve been first?”

Alex frowned and raised an eyebrow. “Really.” he said, “That’s how you want to start this conversation?”

He shrugged his shoulders and gave a laughable smirk “Had to try.” He sighed “Alright, I’ll cut to the chase cause I’m kind of low on time; I need your help with something,”

Though still confused at the strange turn of events that the night had presented, he still felt a little disappointed that his friend only came to ask for help, but none-the-less, Alex tried to think up a plausible reason why his friend needed assistance, “Money?”

Jason shook his head “No; information on an executive, who works in one of your dad’s rival companies.”

Well. Okay. Alex allowed his brain a few moments to digest the words and after which, he turned back to him and replied, “…..Come again?”

Jason laughed lightly to himself, “Yeah. I guess that was to be expected.” He said “Look I just need to look up something on your dad’s computer. Won’t take more than a couple of minutes, then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Okay, his confusion was starting to turn into a serious head-ache as he stared at his old friend and tried to make sense out of his request. Was he in some sort of trouble? Maybe someone was blackmailing him? Or did he just have an agenda of his own?

“Woah, Jason, slow down.” said Alex “Why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me what’s going on? You just broke into my apartment at-” he quickly glanced at his alarm-clock “Two in the morning, asking for -what I can only assume to be- highly confidential information. You could at least give me an explanation”

Jason sighed, “Believe you me Alex; it is one long….crazy story”

Alex pouted at the half-assed response but was determined to find out what exactly was going on, “Come on, just tell me. We’re friends”

Much to Alex’s shock, Jason raised his head and stared at him “Can I trust you to that?” The words coming after an uneasy silence

To say he was taken back by his response would have been a bit of an understatement. When your dad was the CEO of a worldwide, multi-million dollar company, it should come as no surprise that he was often absent from home, leaving your only options for friends being either snooty rich kids or the servants. Well, Alex had never really enjoyed the arrogance of those self-centered elites and the staff (which truthfully were just two maids and a butler) never really treated him any more than a simple associate. So, honestly speaking, he had been pretty much alone. That was until he had met Jason. Sure, someone might doubt the existence of a friendship between a boy from the Elysium district and a boy from the Shadow district, but they proved it real. Whether it be a playmate to escape boring parties or a simple guide so that the streets wouldn’t make a meal of him, Jason had always been there for him. And if anything, Alex wanted to do the same for him, whether good or bad. Preferably good.

“Jason,” he said, taking a seat next to him “We’ve been best friends since we were like nine. A few years apart isn’t going to change that.” he placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder “I can trust that you have my back, while you can trust that I’ve got yours. Now just tell me what’s going on.”

A long silence followed, one that echoed on for a few minutes before Jason turned to him with a grateful smile, “That trip really didn’t change you did it?” he laughed “Same old Alex, i suppose.”

His laugh was infectious as Alex found himself joining in with a hearty chuckle of his own “And I always will be.”

He sat up, off the bed and stretched his legs, motioning for Jason to do the same, “Come on, start at the beginning. I’ll make some tea and sweets”

It took a few moments, but he eventually took a deep breath and sighed, “Alright then. Well, I guess I should start on the day when it all began,” another deep breath “It was about four days ago-”