The rattling metal of the Kite dinged and clunked as I lay there holding my fist, hoping the microjet wouldn’t fall apart. The white light that beamed on both sides, providing light in the cramped space didn’t help as I felt the heat from the beam hitting my neck, plus it made me feel as though my world was small.

“ETA Rook,” I asked.

“7 minutes.”

“Noted.”

I was hoping to get some form of rest before doing my part in Elhisia’s rescue, which was…everything compared to everyone else. But it was clear I wouldn’t get any rest until Colvolt’s daughter was rescued, but more important to him was his damned lineagecube.

As much as I wanted to abort this mission, because of the unknown variables. I knew I just needed to survive, even if it failed. However, despite that, failure was not an option. Especially for me knowing that a man’s daughter was kidnapped. Even though Colvolt Weitson was a piece of shit.

The One Hundred Million to quell Mr Black’s debt would also lift the boulder I felt on my chest after announcing I’d owed him such a monstrous figure.

“What’s the ETA for Cobra Squadron?” I asked.

“Their ETA should be Two to Three hours.” Rook answered.

“I see.”

“Is that enough time for you to rescue the girl?”

“It should be, but that depends on the layout of Devil’s Reach. If I have to double back because of the lack of dark spots, then it’ll probably take me some time.”

“Understood Cypher.”

The jet swerved and I felt the G-Force from the torque sent the harness digging into my side. “Sorry about.” Rook said, “the winds here at more ferocious than I anticipated.”

“This isn’t your first time right?”

“Hell no, I’m a trained Drone Pilot.”

“Interesting, never pegged you for a Drone Boy.”

“That’s what I am Cypher, a Drone Pilot…I’m a Mechanical Engineer second.

“Scary,” I whispered.

“What is?” he asked, confused.

“A Drone Pilot that’s a Mechanical Engineer, let me guess Eltessa is a disgraced Doctor whilst Stryme’s did wetwork for the Antillean Federation.”

Rook chuckled a loud laugh and shook his head. He pulsed into existence above me and nudged his glasses up from the edge of the nose bridge. “You’re way off on Stryme there Cypher.” Rook said, “Stryme’s family ran a restaurant where Mr Black frequented when it went buss Stryme was offered a job.”

“That’s a crock of shit!”

“Take it however you want Cypher.”

“Whatever,” I answered. “…Eltessa?”

“I don’t know anything about her. She’s Mr Black’s right hand, and tends to be a hardass for no reason.”

“I take it she’s drilled you before.”

“Too many times.”

A loud beep comes from the microphone, startling me. “What the hell was that.”

“It’s nothing,” Rook said,” just an incoming call. Give me one second.”

Rook shut off the audio from his end but little did he know, I could read lips.

“Yes…I’m delivering the package”

“ETA ten minutes till drop zone.”

“Understood, patching him through to you now.”

“Cypher.” Rook said. “Stelyne’s on the line.”

“Patch her through,” I said.

“Cypher…Stelyne.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You were right Cypher. We did a toxicology report on the bodies of our friends back at The Broken Sphere and Belleview Port, all of them had minute traces of Tetrodotoxin.”

“Tetrodotoxin? Has the Commissioner traced any pufferfish pisciculturists?”

“I’m working from my end Cypher. You worry about your job whilst I do mine.” Commissioner Hexan said, chiming in.

“We’ll see about that,” I grunted.

“T-Minus 9 Minutes.” Rook said.

“Look into any bulk orders, specifically Antitoxin nanites for Tetrodotoxin.”

“I’m already on it…Cypher.” Commissioner Hexan said firmly.

“Then we’re done here. Stelyne, anything else?”

“No, nothing else to report Cypher.”

“Understood. Cypher out.”

“Godspeed,” Stelyne said.

For the remainder of the flight, I lay in silence, letting my mind wander for the little peace I could get. The flight across the skies wasn’t perfect, nor was it smooth, but It provided me with enough solace to get my mind in the game and ready to infiltrate Devil’s Reach.

“We’re at the drop point,” Rook said. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Flipping the cargo hold.” Rook said.

The once rattling cargo hold disappeared with a white trailing line in my eyes. The cargo hold was flipped, leaving me exposed outside with roaring winds flapping my ears as if they were paper.

The goggles I wore, were crystal clear. I could see the sand from here, but not without zooming in. The strain from my zoom didn’t tingle my brain as it did before, so I was grateful for that. However, wearing the goggles left me nauseated as I’d hadn’t worn such gear in years.

I stimulated my SMB, turning my vision from normal to Night Vision and I watched as the cliffs below sparked into existence with the warming emerald hue with white and black lines, differentiating everything.

“Good luck Cypher.” Rook said. “Releasing straps in 5…4…3…2…1…Release!”

The cargo hold shot off the Kite as it flew up, the weight of the cargo hold floated for a bit, but then it finally began to descend to the ground. I pulled the crank on my left and right releasing my straps and letting the wind guide me.

The Wings from the Wingsuit snapped open and I steered towards Devil’s Reach which was in the distance by a bit. I couldn’t gauge the distance, nor did I want to.

The sucking sound of the wind was reminiscent of a manual vacuum cleaner if the hole was being plugged. Annoyingly so, as that’s all I heard whilst steering.

The barren landscape of The Carib Waste extended for miles as I sailed along with the winds. I caught sight of its beauty in my eyes and hated to admit that compared to Bridge City’s nightly buzz of cars and lunacy. The quietness of the Waste had a charm to it. Not one I could see myself liking anytime soon, but its untamed sterility was one could take note of its wonderment.

I stared past the butte noting its arid exterior. Then swerved down, avoiding an arch that had no right being there. My momentum took me inches from the surface as tasted the dust from the wind brought me back up to the skies.

My heart thumped vigorously, ensuring that I was still alive. Then I swerved left, dipping down a ravine. I folded the wings allowing myself to fall at a faster pace then spread them again, allowing me to soar right back up over a mountain.

Devil’s Reach came into view and relief washed over me in the form of goosebumps. I couldn’t get a good one from where I was, as the stadium still looked like a shattered emerald gem with its flakes sprinkled across the desert surface.

As I surged through the air swerving left as I made my way towards the ruined stadium. I could finally catch a grasp of the surroundings, but found nowhere I could consider land.

I looked around, hoping to find a place for my landing, but couldn’t find anything substantial, so I continued my swerve as it took me closer to Devil’s Reach.

Trickles of light began to resonate to my right as I continually swerved left. I zoomed in on them, noting they were lanterns instead of bulbs, which meant one thing.

Traditional means were being used to light the way. I tried listening in for generators but the wind ferocity was ever-present that was a no go. Or maybe they're none, I hope. that’s good I mused, no possibility of turrets.

“There,” I said, spotting a flat surface on the right side. I couldn’t see due to the large mountain that blocked it on my way here, so I was relieved was my eyes caught wind of it.

I closed the wings again dipping in one final swoop then extended the wings once more, then cut the wings again once I made the apex of my flight, somersaulting mid-air, then yanked my parachute sailing to the ground.

The trip down was as smooth as anything I could get. Despite the Wingsuit’s warmth, the cold penetrated that and my Furtiven Suit surprisingly.

I skated, then hopped as I landed from my descent. My knees felt like crushed powder, from all the weight of my cybernetics. The infuriating thing about my landing was, it wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked, thanks to the craggy surface.

Once I settled in, pulling in my suit I hid it behind a small mesa, then began ensuring I didn’t drop anything on the way here.

My submachine gun was modular, so I began putting it together. I clipped on the foldable stock onto the main component, then attached the suppressor nozzle, then attached my silencer.

I shouldered my submachine gun, took aim in the sky opposite the side and fired a shot into the air. Awesome…it works.

Once I was finished with that, I doubled and tripled check my pistol, which I too added a suppressor and holstered it. I may have a submachine gun, but that was mainly for engaging multiple enemies.

The entire basis of my mission was to snatch and exfiltrate Elhisia Weitson without being seen. Which meant I had to use my firearm before finding, grabbing, and exfiltrating Elhisia.

…and more than likely, that meant my death.

I pulled my knife from my boot, clenched my cybernetic and scrapped the knife against the back of it. Orange sparks flew, then I re-holstered it.

Devil’s Reach was roughly a few kilometres from my locale. I was to the east of the ruined stadium itself and couldn’t see much beyond my Night Vision. I spotted an array of satellites in five fixed positions on this side. Weird I thought, not noticing them on my descent.

I thought they had no generators I mused, guess I’ll have to be extra careful with my entry.

I unclipped the bag in which the weird cylinder I received from Colvolt houses the lineagecube. I ensured it was still intact, noting how it still glowed white, blue with black splotches in between, forcing me to shove it back in without realising.

Then, I fished inside for the small sphere tracker he’d given me, pulling it free, then squeezing the yellow button. I stimulated my SMB to set my coms to Frequency 101.1 and waited for the beep.

Once the beep chimed off in my ear, I set out to forage through Devil’s Reach, hoping to find Elhisia Colvolt before the negotiation was to take place. And based on the counter we agreed on, I had but three hours to find her, at the crack of dawn when the negotiation was meant to start.