This Kolourful Nightmare

Chapter One



    The rain was green with acid as it hit the windows. The smog was so thick the other side of the alley was only just visible, let alone the clouds or the sun. Dalarheena hated it. It was so frozen over only seeing the sun once every three months, and for that they had to go up the nearby mountains. We should do that again soon. He always seems chilled after we've gone up there. She looked away from the window and and tried to see the room. She could barely see for the darkness, the only light came from the blue streetlight outside the window across the room. The electric for this sector (the old sector) didn't come on until 08:00. That meant no brekki until 08:00. Her commde read 07:03.

    Kez was already on the net. Chatting or something. He was Dals older bro. He was wearing a large but tight fitting green hoodie with a purple ghost or something on the back. Its on the front as well, only smaller. He was in purple combats. Worn and torn. Occasionly his head or face would twitch. Involuntarily. Body twitches they called it. Freak is what they called him. Sometimes he would get an anxiety attack and one of his spikes or his tail would just fly across the room smashing a hole through a door. Or scaring the daylights out of an unsuspecting teacher. A friend. A stranger. His hood was up. It usually was. Even she hardly ever saw his semi-long blue hair that framed his face. Let alone anyone else. His blue ears poked out through holes in his hood and twitched. His spikes were similarly coloured on his arms, legs and back and also twitched or stiffened pending what was going on in his heart and mind. Which could be fairly dangerous if you were annoying him into a cold mood. Deadly even.

         "Morning Bro. Nething cold on the net?"

         "Hey sis! A few raids, Jems, she passed tho. A few in green. You sleep?"

         "Like a rock dude. N a rocking dream too. You?"

         "Nope. Not a byte. I couldn't shutdown. I'm alright tho. I took some boosters."

         "Thats not hot dude." Said Dal.

         "Yeah but what can I do?"

         "True. Is Jems ok?"

         "She's alright. The baby is getting more aggressive. He or she is gona be a fighter."

         "Yeah, we should go and see her soon."

         "Yeah, we should."

         "Kez can you call up a recent newsfeed, please?"

         "Sure sis, u looking for anything special?"

         "Nah, I just haven’t seen the news in a week and I wana catch up on what their selling them now."

         "Warm. For that can you roll me a twist?" Kez asked.

         "Sure" Dal reached for his papers and leaves. She tore up the leaves and lay them out on a paper. Then she folded the paper over and twisted it into a cone shape. "Here."

         "Thanx." Kez had opened another portal (he always had one eye on the real news coming in from his net friends), called up a news site and signed in under one of his many aliases. He turned up the volume a lil bit. He didn't wana wake up J-Fray. "Dal, I'm pressing play."

         "Sweet bro. How neo is this?"

         "One hour ago." He pressed play. And flamed his twist. The music played. The colours and images flashed. The woman was about 25. Pinke. As usual. They always have pinke girls. But never pink skins. Their always vanilla. Dal thought, As she started talking. "Hello to you. I'm Kessy Q and your watching an N3cast (National Network News broadcast) I hope this is reaching you well. The headlines for this hour; More radicals have been killed and arrested in attacks on our vital and environ-friendly plants. The radicals who could talk said they were attcking the power plants because their families had been getting sick and dying from the waste in the water system. We talk to a renowned scientist about these absurd allegations. A 25% rise in crime has been reported in the blue sector. Citizens are advised to avoid this sector."

         "Yeah, I was rayd and robbed just yesterday around here, what about you?"

         "Yep, I was raped. She was 10ft and pinke! Hahahahahah! Can you back it Kez?" Laughed Dal.

         "Ah well, guess it just means its safer for us." Said Kez as he backed up the newsfeed.

         "The Inner Sanctum has just revealed a new project for impoverished families. The new plan involves better homes, Academies and shopping options. Gold sector is proposed to be nanobuilt on the outskirts of green and will give these families a better chance believes Sanctum Council General December Xiouxiou . . . "

         "Ha! Dilweed Xiouxiou hasn't got a clue clue!" Said Dal.

         " . . . world news, another galactic ship has been brought down by illegal EMP action over the ???ocean. 10,000 galactic holiday makers died on contact with the EMP. The terrorists who commited this despicable act are known by the Inner Sanctum and are being hunted down. The conflict in ??? rages on with heavy casualties on both sides. The military keeps trying to strike up peace talks but the enemy militia just keep killing. In continental zones outside of weather domes, earthstorms and skyquakes devastate and swallow more cities and provinces by the day. And now lets hear from ??? our renowned scientist about how absurd those allegations are."

         "Right, now lets hear the truth."

         "Ok, Let me just talk to our friends." Dal waited as Kez talked to their net-acts (net contacts).  She glanced @the digiclock on the screen. 07:30. Half an hour till the cryo unit came on and their food came out of stasis. She looked down @her 13yr old sis, J-Fray. Her flouresent yellow and orange hair. She stroked her sisters hair. Nothings ever gona hurt you babe. Bullets and blades, knuckles and rays. None of it is ever gona hurt you sis. Nothings gona stop you having your chance in this infected, virus ridden world. Your so happy and positive, I can't believe you havn't lost your spirit a byte since you were born. ". . . . Dal. Dal?"

         "Yeah, sorry I was miles away. Wassup?"

         "Ok. 1000 people have died so far from the waste in the water system from the ???outer sector plants. But before they die, their lungs disintergrate, their skin rots away and they go painfully blind, deaf and dumb. And now their all dead. The truth is once again, with us. They weren't radicals attacking the plants, it was just the people who could walk protesting. The newscast drones arrived and then squads of bots turned up and rayd them. Its been made to look like the the people started it. Now, the crime lvl in our beloved blue sector is . . . the same as always. No change. The new project for impoverished families? It’s a bloody prison city. The galactic ship that was brought down by 'illegal EMP action?', The illegal EMP action was by us. And why did this ship have to come down? Because the 10,000 galactic holiday makers were fugees. They were fleeing the conflict zone in ???. And why were they fleeing ??? Because it’s them that keep trying to make peace but our 1byte commanders just keep giving the KOS (Kill on Sight) order and last but not least the earthstorms and skyquakes are happening far, far from any semblance of civilization."

         "The same old lies and fear tactics as always, then." Said Dal, dejectedly.

         Kez was back in the netrooms.

         -5hadow5- Hows everything going guys?

         -7ev!athan7- Yeah, 5hadow5. All is well. Our friends are (making) good (progress). Their not far from you actually.

         -5hadow5- Where are they?

         -7ev!athan7- Green (Yellow)

         -5hadow5-What are they looking for anyway 7eviathan7?

         -7ev!athan7- Have you ever heard of the journals (diaries)?

         -5hadow5- Of course!

         -7ev!athan7- They scanned one earlier in the archives in green (yellow) They've been looking for it for the past hour.

         -7ev!athan7- They got it!

         -5hadow5- Badass!

         -7ev!athan7- No wy! They got bots!

         -7ev!athan7- This is Commander Jeightoss. 5hadow5, u n N!ght5hock gt dwn 2S.highway9 n gt r friends out of there rite now! Their codenames are DynamiteMonkey and FireMole. They will ask you coded msg 5.

Gt gone!

         "Dal! We've gota go. Leave a code6 note n jump out in 2. Ill be revving yours. Just like we practised."

         "What the hell!? Frozen over dude. Its 07:59!"

         "Dal! Theres no one else. Were going!"

         -5hadow5- Yes Sir. We're gone. And with that Kez disappeared out the door. Not warm, thought Dal. She was dozing when Kez called her name. Now she pulled on her black mesh tights over her pink skin and dark red spikes. Then she pulled on her short red skirt, a red tshirt and over it a meshy black long sleeve, and her knee high black boots with the red straps, she left the note (Morning lil sis. Code6, L8as D n Kz xx) where Jay would see it, picked up her ray phazer, kissed Jay on the forehead "Love ya sis. Inabit." And got to the window just as Kez hovered out of the garage and up into the alleyway pulling up her bike just a bit behind his. She pulled up the window, n swung herself out and landed in the saddle as the window fell shut. She revved the gine as she pulled on her helmet and flicked down the visor. From dozing to flying 120 2nds had passed. 

    "Lets go!" Shouted her bro. They flew through the alleyway @ well over the limit, twisting and turning, flipping n twirling through the ever winding, intertwining roads and snaking buildings. Now they were flying under faded colour rooftops and gardens as old decaying roads and pipes whizzed passed them, all around. It was all centuries old. Blue was the only sector that was. It was nothing compared to the intricacy of the other 5 neolithic sectors. All glassy, silver, mirrored and automated. They were near the sector edge and the 10lane 3lvl super highway that connected Alphoenix with Echeohelios and every other metropolis in this computerized nanobuilt nation. As they flew along the accidental tunnel made up of the stacked and mazed buildings and roads they came to an exit and suddenly they were flying down onto the s.highway joining many other millions of hoverists on their way to work, school and parties in these cities that never sleep. Even this shighway was nanobuilt through a never ending maze of buildings and smaller roads. You sometimes saw the glint of the weather domes that cover every developed nation on ???*planet*. How did we get here? Us, as a race I mean? Dal couldn't help drifting when she was flying the ride as the glow of the sun was visible through the dome because it wasn't high enough to be blocked by the smog. They nano built the weather domes years before she was born because the atmosphere was dissapearing, so the stories go. " . . . . Dal? Sis come in? Dal can you hear me?"

         "Yeah Kez, I'm here. Wassup? Sorry. I was miles away."

         "I know. I thought I was the one that didn't get enough sleep? Focus sis. I need you with me on this." Pleaded Kez as he had a small twitch.

         "Ok. Sorry Kez. I am here. Warm as, bro. How far off are we?"

         "Nearly there." Dal could tell he was praying, even through her earpiece and the electronic distortion she knew he was praying. Praying their friends didn't get shot to hell before they could save them. Just hang in there a lil while longer. They were dodging hovercars, bikes, trucks and tankers. You name it. They were leaving it in their airstream. Weaving in and out and leaving a trail of insults and angry drivers in their wake.

    "There they are!" She could see them too. The bots (their name for the cops. Because they just reacted to orders without ever questioning what part they played in the bigger machine) who were chasing their friends. And shooting to kill. They had done it! Like her brother, she put her bike on autoride and unholstered her phazer. Holding it sideways out in front of her, she took aim @ a thruster. "DynamiteMonkey and FireMole, do you copy? "

         "We copy. When the time is right?"

         "We will strike from the night." Answered Kez.

         "Hey guys."

         "Now." They fired. Two botbikes just went byebye! Not dead, just a bit bruised and surprised. The rest of the bots got such a shock that they lost control and collided causing mass chaos. Seizing their chance, Dal and Kez flew into the hovermobile madness and found their charges. Their bikes were smoking black, Dal and Kez came up along side and pulled their friends from their busted bikes.

         "Good Morning!" shouted a girls voice. She was riding with Kez now.

         "It aint over yet kid, hold tight. Dal you set?"

         "Yo. Answer my brother." She said as she nudged her rider.

         "Set dude."

         "Then lets bust. Burn it Dal!" And with that they revved it up and sped off @ 120cph.

Behind them their charges bikes burst into flame. They immediatly got off the shighway by flying over the head height railings straight down into the maze of stacked roads and buildings. Hoverists all around, quickly scarpered. Not wanting to be interrogated and suspected of being involved. Normal reality resumed. Dals digiwatch read 08:17. It was synchronized with the Underground Networks          

         "BEEP! BEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEEEEP!"

         "Shut up Shimmz. I'm awake already!"

         "Sorry J-Fray. Good sleep?"

         "Yeah, it was alright. What time is it?"

         "08:20." Shimmz answered.

         "Thanx Shimmz. If I am late one more time I'm gonna be fried alive. Dal, Kez?" She asked him.

         "They left 30 mins ago. I would play you what happened but you asked me not to record such items."

         "Yeah. Its Ok Shimmz. Did they leave a note? Ah yes here we go." Jay read the note. "Code6? Oh yeah, rescue mission. I wonder what it was this time? I doubt they even got any brekki did they?"

         "They left @ 07:59."

         "Oh! Really? Well that sucks nusion balls."

         "Yes it duz. You however, have brekki waiting."

         "Mmmmmmmmm. And I am hungry my lil togg (tech dogg)! What have we got today then? Play some drum and sass Shimmz, I need to get warm for Ace." She said as she climbed out of bed and walked dazedly around the room. "Ugh, really? Do I have to fuzzle my circuts with those dastardly subsonyx?"

         "Just play it Shimmz. Whats for brekki? She asked as she blew her nose and walked to the bathroom.

He started the music. And shouted over it, "Well, theres micro noodles."

         "Yep." She said as she closed the bathroom door.

         "That spacedust flavoured slice of dizza from two nights ago."

         "Ewww." She said from inside.

         "And your chocolate and zwizz cream pancakes."

    "There it is!" She said as she danced out of the bathroom to the beatz blasting from Shimmz. Today she had chosen a 5star mismatched arrangement of colourful clothing. Turquise tights, a red skirt with a blue halo trim that went diagnally around her legs and a pink top, that had been partly shredded across the back on some adventure or another. Then she put her hair in three tails. One @ the front off to the right side, another @ the back off to the right side and another sticking off the left side of her head. Last but not least, she pulled on her big blue moon rock boots with their hott red straps.

    Now she was dressed and 3inches taller, she walked over to the cryo unit and took out her pancakes. She ate them, enjoying them thouroghly. While ignoring Shimmz and his jibes about her getting fat. But laughing @ the same time, coz she knew it was really about some of the oversized bratz @Ace that attempted to bring down her happy spirit. She finished her pancakes and cleaned her teeth and breath with some mouthswill. "Now I feel a bit more human, its time to get to the next screen." She affirmed as she picked up Shimmz, zipped him up in her sack, picked up her speeder board, activated it and threw it out the window. She swung the sack onto her back and jumped out onto her board in one smooth motion. Landing on it in a crouch and going straight into a left turn. Riding it @ a forward tilt she picked up some speed and height and then straightened up as she found balance. Shimmz' internal clock read 09:00.

         

         As Jay looked @ the note, thingz were a bit crazy for Dal, Kez and their neo friends. After getting off the shighway the bots soon caught up with them (going under a building!) and were making a real effort to bring them to heel. Two hover cars, four more bikes and a hovercopter were (going over a road!) now making Dal and co. their main objective. The copter was directly above them and tracking their every move. And the cars and bikes weren't far behind them either. They needed a quick exit. They needed help. They weren't about to lead the bots to a hideout and it wasn't part of their modus operandi to kill people who were just doing their jobs and who had families. As they went into another maze of spiralling horizontal buildings and snaking roads; "What are they saying?" Said Kez into his mike. "Yes Ma'am. Will do. Ma'am heres 5hadow5. Hear for yourself dude."

         "Goodmorning 5hadow5. Well done, young'n. You and N!ght5hock have shown bravery and cunning beyond your years. Now, we are giving the bots some e.decoys (electronic decoys) that spawned from your pos about 5 2nds ago. We have also jammed their rad sigs (radio signals). I'm sure you are capable of dodging the aero unit for another 20miles arnt you?"

         "I most certainly am Ma'am. N!ghtshock is too. We are primed and warm. Where are we headed?"

         "Can you get yourself headed in the direction of the Satellite Graveyard?"

         "We are now, Ma'am."

         "Good. A good man that goes by the name of Dyster will meet you on the way. He'll get you out of yellow and to a warm place of ours. Hes tracking your sig. When you are within range he'll rad you. He will ask you coded msg 2.

N!ght5hock, are you hearing me?"

         "Loud and clear Commander."

         "Good. When you have been picked up by Dyster, he will ask you where that warm place is. Only you know where, ok?"

         "Yes Ma'am. Will do Ma'am."

         "Good work N!ght5hock. Over and out."

         "Did ya'll get all of that?"

         "Clear as daylight." Said her passenger.

         "Affirmative." Said Kez's.

         "Then lets do this. How far form the Satellite Graveyard are we Kez?"

         "About 20 miles."

         "Good. Dyster should radio us in less than 5. From now until then, radio silence Ok?" And silence there was. They had just left yellow sector and entered green. They had lost the cars and bikes but the hovercopter still had a visual on them. The Satellite Graveyard was in Red and was a short hover away. Nearly there. Hel of a way to start the day, thought Dal they as went round and round the spiralling twist tunnel of a corkscrew twirl of buildings that snaked in and out of the ground. Kez signalled with his indicator and they went into an access tunnel that would lead them to the street.

           Coming out on a topsy turvey street that sloped on and off residential buildings, they slowed down and went single file. It was tense. The copter wasn't far behind but it had lost them in the spiral twister and hadn't found them again. Yet. They didn't wana draw any attention to their presence. It was bad enough being this exposed. They felt tainted and quietly detested just passing through this neighbourhood of sanitized insanity with their middle class hover cars and gardens. Everything was very proper. Identical to my folks place thought Kez and Dal simultaneously, they looked @ eachother and even through their visors they could practically read eachothers minds 'They are oblivious and blind to the true nature of their world.' As they hovered through the streets @ a steady pace, they glanced into a few windows and weren't surprised by what they saw. People watching the news. Interactive reality soaps. Sports. Documentaries. Films. The list goes on. Kids and adults playing virtual games of war, adventure, domestica, sports. The list of junk to fill your mind with and distract you from the real world and all of its potential was infinite. Comfortably dumb. They went under the house @ the end of the street and came out of the twister a 2nd later saddened, sickened and a lil more steeled in their drive to make another life for themselves and future generations.

    They found themselves in Red sector. Industrial land. Power plants and ore refineries. Etc etc. many colours of smoke billowed from huge funnels in every direction. Automated hover lorries and cranes loaded eachother with goods for the masses. There wasn't a person in sight. Dal doubted there was anyone here @ all. Maybe the odd tech making sure all the circuts and drivers were running smoothly in some sanitized chrome office somewhere.

         "5hadow5 do you copy?" They all heard in their ears.

         "We copy. Unite the neglected?"Asked Kez.

         "And be a voice for the voiceless." Answered The Dyster. "How are we today friends?"

         "Were warm dude! All the better for hearing your voice though." Said Dals passenger excitedly.

         "Ok. You see that dark twister in front of you? I'll see you in there in a few minutes. Now you won't see me, but I'll see you. Until then. Over and out."

They reached the underpass that went under one of many vast factories and were swallowed by the darkness. Quickly coming to a stop Dal said "Lights. And deactivate your mikes. Leave on your earpieces. Were not gona be able to see him, we wana be able to hear him." They all flicked off their mikes and took off their helmets. Stretching their necks, Dal and Kez deactivated the bikes to let them cool off. "Right. Names, please. I'm Dal and this is my bro Kez. I'm 17 and hes 19. You?" Kez got off his bike and got out his skins and leaves and rolled a twist as he walked around the tunnel. Time to unwind, after that lil trip. He thought as he flamed it. "Warm girl. I'm Jyro." Said Kez's rider as they all gave eachother skins on the on the knuckles.

         "And this is my bro Sephi. I'm 15 and he just turned 16." Dal and Kez hugged deep. Happy to still have eachother alive. Jyro and Sephi did the same. Kez drew deep. He hated putting his sisters in danger. "Girrrl. You guys were warm as fire out there. You barely even injured any of those bots! No unnessecary pain. I've only ever read about manouvers like the ones you pulled off out there today. It was so warm."

         "Yeah girl. You know this. We are not the bad guys. I don't wana hurt nobody whose only doing their jobs and who have families. We leave that to the off paper nutjobs in the snakes of power."

         "Come in young firebloods, This is CosmicAlbatross." Came through their earpeices. They all put on their helmets and sat properly on the bikes. Kez drew one last from his twist, stubbed it on the floor and got back on his bike. Jyro saddled up and wrapped her arms around him. Sephi did the same with Dal and they activated the bikes and revved off slowly, Knowing their lift was here.

         "This is DynamiteMonkey. When the fire burns cold?" He asked.

         "We come with the hott ice. Hello young firebloods! I'm about fifty m'clycs down the tunnel. I'm coming toward you slowly. Just keep coming and though you won't see it, theres a ramp. Once you've rode up it we can blaze." Answered Dyster in all their ears. They went forward cautiously, knowing they wouldn't see their saving grace. Just start rising toward it. A few 2nds later, they did. They were sitting on their bikes in midair. They heard the ramp close behind them and then the tunnel disappeared and they found themselves in a cargo hold. They felt themselves moving @ speed out of the other end of the tunnel. To anyone who happened to see this lil episode, they had just vanished into thin air. "Hey ya'll. Welcome aboard The CosmicAlbatross. Its a cloaked personal transport. I'm above you in the cockpit. Dal, wheres the closest warm place?"

         "Ok Dyster, head to edge of blue sector next to red and find Cyber Dreamers Avenue and the intersection with the aptly named Tranquillity Way. Tell me when your @the intersection And I'll direct you."

         "Affirmative Dal." Replied Dyster.

They all took their helmets off and turned off their mikes and earpieces. Dal and Kez secured their bikes against the wall with the installed forcefields. They came over to where Jyro and Sephi were sitting and sat down opposite them.

         "So which sector are you from?"

         "Me and Jyro are from Black."

         "What the cold hel! Thats like 60 miles away! Why are you so far from home?"

         "We're working on the Diaries Project. Its need2know only, so Command wanted as few people involved as possible. So when we scanned a possible hiding place in Yellow sector, instead of trusting more people with the knowledge, command asked us to retrieve it. We have a personal? connection with the Diaries and theres never been anyone more passionate than us about finding them, so we're the obvious choice. We would willingly give our lives to put those diaries in the hands of the Underground. It looks like the Inner Sanctum also knew it was there but instead of making a fuss about it, knowing we would be on their heels in a flash, they were hoping no one would ever find its location. But we did and now we have it."

         "Wow. Deep. So can we have a look @ what stopped us getting our brekki this morning? Or can you at least tell us what is so hot about it?" Asked Kez.

         "Nope and negative. Thats for someone with more authority than either of us have to disclose. Sorry. We're under orders."

         "Nope. Cool. We totally understand." Said Dal and Kez.

         "So where do you live?" Asked Sephi.

         "Blue sector. Not far from here."

         "Yo Dal! I'm coming up on yer intersection. Where to?"

         "Dyster you are the dude! Ok. Right, now we're on Tranquillity Way. If you look down to your right you can see Cyber Dreamers Avenue. Now, do you see that burning Mercury Star (a car)?" Dal asked as she put on her helmet, flicked on the comm device and got on her bike. The others mounted up as well

         "I sure do."

         "Can You drop us in the alley behind the shops off to the right of it? We've got our bikes. Its underground from here on in. Dude, can I get your personal no. if thats all right? I'm a networker and you are a very useful person to know."

         "Sure thing Dal. Its 05471472090. Call me whenever your in a cold place and you need an invisible exit."

         "Thank you, Dyster. You will definatly be hearing from me. I get myself in plenty of cold places. And I know I'll be able to use your services."

         "Ok, well I am a busy man but I'll put you in contact with some of my friends who also have some very interesting and unique capabilities as I am sure all of you do too."

         "Awww thanx Dyster. I'll ring you when I get a moment so you can gimme those no.s"

         "Affirmative Dal. Ok you young bloods you are where you wana be. The time is 09:45. Stay warm and kick butt. I'm opening the ramp now. Take care guys." When the ramp opened they were ready to move. It wasn't even touching the ground and they were hovering toward an opening door. Just as the door opened. It looked like a ordinary garage door. Graffiti n all. But this was no ordinary garage, it was an underground tunnel that would lead them to The Claw. Dals Underground hangout. "Come in Cybershark. This is N!ght5hock. Do you copy?"

         "I copy. When the time is nigh?"

         "The Claw will strike the heart of the beast."

         "I've opened the gate. Its good to hear your voice N!ght5hock. How are you guys? The Commander said to expect you. Shes waiting for you in the Comms room ASAP."

         "We're well. Thanx CyberShark. Chat in a bit when we reach the other end.

         "L8as N!ght5hock." The basewide internal voice clock read the time as 09:50.

                                                

Chapter Two

         

         They activated their lights and sped down into the tunnel. It would take 20mins to get to the other end. The tunnel was wide enough for a wide vehicle or two thinner ones. The Claw itself was a twofold operation. On the surface it was a hive of subculture activity. Every subculture was appreciated and encouraged, and so attracting a wider range of misfits and outkasts. It had everything; metal, punk, rock, reggae, hiphop, electronica, drum n bass, drum n sass, (the list goes on)

Every type of cult and subculture film, video game and anything else you could think of you could think of. There wasn't a shop like it in any sector that Dal had ever been to. Every type of outkast came into the Claw for info and gossip on bands, conspiracies, films, local and from the four corners of the globe. It also served as a hang out. Housed within the shop was a well staffed cafe that served good home made food and had comfy sofas, chairs and bean bags. In the back there was also a net cafe that pulled in a large proportion of the overall profit. The shop took as many donations as it purchased neo stock. All the profits went back into the community and helping the Cause of The Underground. It was a real community center. The people that worked there were all agents of the Underground. But that didnt mean you couldnt work for them if you weren't an agent of the Underground. It actually worked quite well as way of recruiting neo agents. Dal had seen many people become Agents that way. There was always @least one Agent on the shopfloor @ any time, if not more. This meant that if they heard any relevant info from people in the shop, positive or negative they could get to the shop intercom, either on the shopfloor or upstairs and report it to the Agent manning the phone down in the comms room.

    But all this was just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface of reality, of the shop floor was the vast mass of the rest of the iceberg, of corridors and fibre optics. This was the twofold nature of The Claw. It was also the way with the world @ large. Dal mused for the 100000th time because this concept of a schitzophrenic reality and the jouney from only existing on on the surface of reality to going ever deeper into what was under the surface facsinated her. Because once you took that red pill and started to search for the truth, once you found something that in the truest part of your heart of hearts that you knew to be true, you couldn't deny it. It didn't matter whether you ran from it or fought it, you would have to eventually face it. ". . . Dal. Dal? Can you hear me?"

         "Wha? Yes I'm here. Sorry."

         "Hey N!ght5hock. You can't chip away @ the surface of the iceberg?" Asked CyberShark.

         "Without chipping away @ your external self as well. Hey CyberShark! I'll come and say hi when we're done. L8as" Answered Dal.

         "Thank you N!ght5hock. I'm looking forward to your visit, heres the Commander."

         "Goodmorning N!ght5hock." Beamed Commander Jeightoss.

         "Goodmorning Commander."

         "N!ght5hock am I right to assume you have three guests with you? That you wish to bring onto this base and henceforth make them full Agents of this base?"

  "Affirmative Commander."

  "Ok. Can you please verify for security purposes their codenames, their relation to you, your purpose for bringing them here and vouch for their loyalty to the Underground?"

  "Yes Ma'am. The guy on the bike next to me is 5hadow5. Our riders are DynamiteMonkey and FireMole." She said confidently looking into the lens of the camera mounted above the gate. "5hadow5 is my bother. Accomplishing the mission that we have just been involved in, would have been impossible for either of us without the other. His loyalty to the cause is unquestioned to my heart and mind. DynamiteMonkey and FireMole are two outstanding and brave friends who have devoted their lives to the Diaries Project. They are here to give their report on the mission from their perspective. And their loyalty is also completely unquestioned to my heart and mind. We would all let the others die rather than give up the Cause of the Underground. We understand that a few lives are not worth firstly, all the lives and knowledge the Underground protects and secondly the dream of a better future for our children and the generations to come."

    "Very good N!ght5hock. You and your friends are welcome on the base. Quarters have been set up for you on lvl 2. Zone 1. You may reside here as long as you need to. Please park your bikes up in the bays provided off to the left as you pass through the gate. I expect to see you in the Mission Room ASAP for a debrief and briefing. As soon as we have done that you can all have a hot meal. All clear so far Agent N!ght5hock? Agent 5hadow5? Agent FireMole? Agent DynamiteMonkey?

All in unison: "Crystal Clear Ma'am!"

    "Very good young bloods. One more thing before I let you onto my base. You have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to my mind that you are mature beyond your years. So I'm sure this is just a technicality, however I have to say it to cover my back and for the protection of all those under my command. You have, as many children do these days had to grow up too fast, this is unfortunate but such is life and the age we live in. In light of this, while you are on this base you will be treated as adults and as individuals in your own right. You will not be given any special treatment beyond that which is common sense, according to your height and so forth. As such you will not be chaperoned around the base and you will be responsible for your own behaviour. I expect you to help each other and as you will find out, although everyone here is friendly and well mannered, there is great diversity of what those terms mean. So, bottom line; don't take any crap. I will see you shortly. Welcome to the base. Do not dilly dally shilly shally! An Agent will issue you with your temp I.D.s when you have parked your bikes. Over and Out"

    The gate opened. They hovered in and parked their bikes. The Agent came out of the security office and issued them with four I.D. cards. That they hung around their necks. Each of them said their thanks. As usual the room was a mess and badly lit. Not accidentily. They kept as few lights connected as possble otherwise the power lvls of The Claw would give them away to the Inner Sanctum and their Secret Enforcers. As they were walking to the elevator they got some nods and smiles. Dal was looking for . . . And then she saw it. "Guys, follow me. She went to a door, opened it and closed it when everyone was inside. It was packed with stuff, like every room on the base. Kez took his flamer and they were huddled up like zarnitoes in a can. Dal got to it; "Right, we need to sort some stuff out. Most of the Commanders including Commander Jeightoss defected from the military. So they don't take any crap. So we need to know what were doing before we go in there. They are expecting us to, trust me. So, what are you guys doing after today?"

Sephi and Jyro looked @ eachother, "Well we can't go back to Black Dal, because we havn't got a home there anymore."

         "Ok. Tell us more later, Yeah?"

         "Ok." The two of them answered.

         "Guys you can stay with us. I know you don't mind, Dal and Jay won't. So thats that sorted."

         "Really? Oh wow! Thanx guys."

         "Sephi, you sound about ten. But yeah, thanx guys." Said Jyro.

         "What do you need to carry on searching for the Diaries?"

         "People to run errands and do the legwork while we do the scanning and secure access to the Underground and Inner Sanctum archives. And the libraries and museums, etc.

         "Not much then?" Kez responded.

         "Shut up Kez. Ok. I think we can find you some people pretty easily, we just need to pull some more from the matrix. The secure net access might take a bit longer but I think with all of Kez's and my contacts we can put something together."

         "Seph, what are you going to explain?"

         "How we found the Diaries.

         "Good. Jyro?"

         "What we need to carry on searching for them."

         "Warm as girl. And whatever happens in there, are we united?"

         "What do you mean dal" Asked Seph.

         "I mean, are we a unit? Can the two of us count on the two of you, or what?

Kez spoke; "How about: were a team and if we have a disagreement then we talk about before dividing?"

         "Cool."

         "Sweet."

         " Yeah, badass. Gotta love consultation. So are we all in order? Anything you wana talk about don't hesitate to come and talk to one of us ok?"

         "Yeah. Sure."

         "Wicked. Oh, just one more technicality, coz your probably gona have to come to Ace with us. Just so you know, unless we tell you that someone is in the Underground or knows that we are, you do not talk to them about anything to do with the Underground ok?"

         "Yeah we knew that. We've grown up in the Underground. Don't worry. We're streetsmart. Whats Ace?"

         "Education." Looks of puzzlement. "It use to be called skool?"

         "Ughhhh."

         "Yep. We feel the same way. And it suxx. Major. But part of being treated like an adult is doing the things you don't wana do. And in the Underground that translates into putting up as much of a facade as is possible of the fact that you are not an Agent of the Underground. And if you’re under 18, that means Ace." Explained Dal.

    The gang walked to the elevators through the cluttered and badly lit corridors. Once they were all in, Dal pressed floor eight. "Eight?" Asked Sephi.

         "Yeah theres six floors in total. I was surprised as well when I first came down this far. Vehicle entry is only lvl3."

         "Wow. This is a main base then?" Asked Jyro as she looked about at the Officers lvl of the base.

         "Yep. For sure." They arrived @ lvl six. The doors opened.

         "Lets go." Said Kez. Arn't we a colourful bunch, thought Dal as Sephi and Jyro walked in front of them and her brother walked beside her. This was the 1st time she had really taken notice of their two neo friends choice of clothing. Sephi has silver skin and is wearing a purple t-shirt, cut-offs and stealth sneakers. He looked agile, fast, nimble and able to dissapear very quickly. His hair comes down around his neck and is also purple. Instead of three spikes on each arm, leg and his back, plus a tail, Sephi has lots of lil spikes all over his body. His ears are silver, they don't poit upward off of his head though. Dal guessed, that because of all the times he spent under a balaclava or some sort of hat, his long ears flopped down the side of his head. She suspected he could still sense you @ a hundred paces, no matter how quiet you were and those spikes probably secreted some sort of poison or sedative. Similarly, his tail is lots of lil tails, that sway and shake. And were probably useful in some way or another. He had them in a band though. Dal could tell he was a thief. Now she looked @ Jyro. The girl had bright yellow skin, blue pants, girly T, long overcoat and hair. Her yellow ears were tall and already had quite a few peircings. Her spikes were more like fingers. Dal suspected Jy was capable of bringing this base to its knees by getting access to any net terminal within a hundred miles. A dangerous ally when the whole world is infinitly more intertwined by the day with AI, fibre optics, nanobots and the System Wide Net (SWN). They arrived @ the Mission Room. Dal moved up to the door in front of them. Looking @ them, she asked; "Any questions? We ready?"

         "Yep."

         "Affirmative."

         "Lets do this."

         "Good." Knock knock.

         The door opened and they went in. Her commde read 10:10 .

         "Goodmorning Dal." Said the Commander getting up from behind the long metal table that she was seated at. She came round and gave Dal skins. "And this must be Kezastian."

         "Yes Ma'am. Its sooo cool to meet you @ last."

         "Thankyou, Kez. Its cool to finally meet you too. And who have we got here?"

         "Goodmorning Ma'am. I'm Sephiroth and this is my sister Jyroleito. Its very good of you to let us stay on your base Ma'am."

         "Yes, thank you so much Commander."

         "Don't be stupid young'ns. The Underground looks after those that look after it. Please sit down, Sergant Jecksin will have the other Commanders onscreen soon enough, won't you Jecksin? And then we can get started"

         "UGHQ and the other five section Commanders will be onscreen in five minutes Commander."

         "Very good Jecksin. Now, Sephi and Jyro can you tell me a bit about what you have retrieved this afternoon?"

         "No disrespect Ma'am, but shouldn't we wait until the other Commanders are onscreen?" Responded Sephi.

         "Yes. Yes. Of course. Just a lil test and you passed with flying colours."

         @ this Dal checked out the room. She had never been in here before and was amazed. On the far wall behind the Commander was an assortment of differently sized but all quiet small screens. On either side of them were two much larger screens. The one on the left was much bigger. The one on the right was even bigger. All of the screens were hanging @ precarious angles and the cables were hanging everywhere. The lighting in the room was again low. All over the walls were maps with the powergrids and colour-coded sectors of the city, blueprints, schematics, headshots of possible recruits, allies, enemies, criminals and so on. Their were supply routes for fuel, food, ammo and weapons. There were more maps detailing those areas that supported, were in favour of, or were receptive to the Underground and those areas that believed everything that they heard and saw on the newscasts. Dal felt overwhelmed by it all. She couldn't imagine the type of mind it took to organize an operation of such magnitude and all the while, hiding from the Secret Enforcers of the Inner Sanctum.

         "Ma'am, the other six Commanders are coming online now."

         "Thank you Sergant Jecksin." The Commander had been making small talk with Jyro and Seph. Now she got up and sat up and went and sat @ one end of the table. One by one, the other Commanders appeared on the six small screens. While the two larger screens stayed black. If you saw them on the street, out of the various styles of military dress that they wore, you wouldn't know that these six people were the ex-military Commanders of the Underground. Each was a striking combination of colour. Dal had only ever met a few sergants and privates from the other sectors. Seeing all six Commanders @ once plus her own was an honour she had before today never believed she would be blessed with.

         "Commander Zarkobas! Fellow Commanders. May I introduce you to Dalarhina, her bro Zekastian. Sephiroth and his sister Jyroleito. Thank you for taking the time to see us. I'm sure you will not regret it. Could you Introduce yourselves to the young'ns?" Said Jeightoss with the utmost proffesionalism. "Of course Commander. Goodmorning Youngbloods! I am Commander Zarkobas. Commander of Underground Headquarters in in White Sector." Said a short and stocky but older looking man with the ultra rare skin colour of transparent. His hair was like wisps of wind. He was a lot to get use to.

He was wearing blue clothing.

         "Good day to you. I am Commander Serapharos. I am in charge of operations in Red Sector." Said a tall red skinned man with long yellow hair and orange clothing.

         "Greetings to you on this day. I am Commander Airrakyira. You will find me in Yellow Sector." Said a young looking black skinned woman with spiky jet white hair and grey clothing.

         "Blessings on all of you from Great Mother Universe. I am Commander Quesa-kyro. Green Sector is my home." Said a beautiful young light green skinned woman who had dark green hair but with yellow steaks. She was wearing white clothing.

         "Hello there. I hope your well after that lucky escape of yours. I'm Commander Haisaekoss

and me and my friends will help you however we can if you are ever in Purple Sector." Said a good looking blue skinned man with a shaggy mess of red hair with matching red clothing.

         "What up. I'm Commander Nighten-Jey. I am in charge of Black Sector. Seph. Jyro. Good to see you two made it." Said a young looking bloke with black and red skin that striped and swirled all over his body. He had red and white hair and was wearing simalar clothing.

         "Thank you Commanders. I hope you are all well or @ least holding up well under the trials that are testing you. Now, if you have no objections. I will ask our friends to explain their find."

Nods all round. "If you will, please?" Asked Jeightoss.

         "Seph, your up dude." Prompted Dal.

         "Goodmorning Commanders. Thank you from all of us for taking this time to hear us. I hope it makes a difference to the fight that we are all in. For the last few years me and my sis have been @ the centre of a project that we all know as the Diaries Project." Those who didn't know it, were now very interested as they had all heard of the Diaries but up until now, no one but their Commander and Zarkobas and his advisors had known who these two were. Even Zarkobas didn't know what they looked like, security was so tight.

         "Well it’s been a long and tedious search, but we finally hit pay dirt today in Yellow. And we got it. It’s in my sack. As soon as we mounted our bikes, the bots were on us. Like they were waiting for us to find it. Thank the Universe that Dal n Kez were awake and not too far away in Blue. Otherwise we would not be here."

         " Can we see it son?" Asked Zarkobas, in a quiet voice.

         "Yes of course, Sir." Sephi took the worn blue Diary out of his sack and showed it to them.

Gasps all round. "They really do have it."

         "Just like the rumours say."

         "Praise the Stars!"

         "This is a blessed day."

         "Way to go you guys!"

         "Commanders! Let the young man continue" Said Zarkobas.

         "Theres not much more that I can tell you Commanders. The four of us would like to know whats so big about these Diaries though. Me and my sis know a lil bit but only what Commander Nighten-Jey told us and what we heard on the vine.

         "I thinks thats fair, don't you agree? My fellow Commanders? Afer all two of these young's have spent the last few years of their young lives looking for it and if it wasn't for the bravery cunning of the other two we wouldn't have it in our possesion." Asked Zarkobas.

Affirmatives all round.

         "Ok then. Dalarhina and Kezastian Losiris. Jyroleito and Sephiroth Zummerz. Who I might add are my neice and nephew. And so these Diaries are rightfully theirs after I have passed on." All around, jaws dropped simultaneously. Dals and Kez's included. "As such you are to afford them every courtesy and protection in their quest to find more of these Diaries. As my relatives, you two know some of this but not all of it. The four of you have recovered the first of the Diaries and therefore you have deepened our knowledge and understanding of the Great Undertaking that we are facing." Looks of confusion from the four kidults.

         "I'll start @ the beginning. My great grandmothers grandmother was a child when the rebuilding began, after The Great Fires. Jezneper Zarkobas was one of the first rebels. In the ruins of what are now the newer sectors, she found what she believed to be a diary someone had kept before The Great Fires. Within these shreds, she found proof, unequivocal proof that The Great Fires were not an accident." The four kidults stared @ him with open mouths. There had been rumours. Whispers. But unequivocal proof? That was hott as hel! And cold as a wintery grave @ the same time. The Commander continued. "There were battles and great sacrifice to prevent The Old City being burnt to the ground.” Remarked Zarkobas quiet defiant tone. As if he was holding back an ocean behind those eyes.