<span style="color: #0080FF"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Silver and Karin</span></span></span></span><br/><br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">As I steeled myself for the leap of faith, I noticed a woman separate herself from the group and situate by the edge of the chasm, waving hysterically to prevent me from jumping. I frowned and reasserted my footing, ensuring the boy was secure upon my shoulders. I knew that the danger I faced now would pale in comparison to the hazard I had hopefully distanced myself from at the base of the tree. Taking one final glance downward, I lowered my body in preparation for the sprint, then dashed forward at a blinding speed to the end of the bus. Lunging forward, I outstretched my right arm, then landed hard at the rear of the vehicle, closing my eyes in concentration as my momentum began to roll my body forward, focusing my thoughts into a mental shout.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Vector thirty, angle one hundred thirty seven degrees, velocity ten feet per second, distance ten yards. L-Code... Activate!</span><br/><br/>Commanded by the will of my mind, metallic plates located on the sides of my boots flashed bright crimson, and my body was thrust forward by the power of Lytenium infusion. I arched high into the air over the crevice, leaving a crater of metal from where I jumped from the bus, and a streaming trail of red light lingering in the air. I rotated and gazed down silently at the curiously brave woman as I passed gracefully overhead, clutching the teenager securely as our eyes met. The bus creaked and tilted over into the precipice as my feet came into abrupt contact with the asphalt on the opposite side, which released a small corona of energy about me.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">L-Code, Desist!</span><br/><br/>Breathing heavily, but without hesitation, I removed the kid from my shoulders, laying him gently upon the ground, then retrieved the care kit I kept at my side. Fumbling briefly inside, I found a flashlight, then passed it over his eyes, opening the lids with care as I did so. Relieved to see the pupils dilate, I exhaled a sigh, then patted his forehead, rising slowly to my feet immediately afterward and stowing away my kit.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I made it in time, thankfully, but...</span><br/><br/>I raised my head already knowing I would be surrounded by a curious crowd of onlookers. Many were in horrible shape, missing limbs and suffering a variety of injuries to various degrees. They watched me cautiously, shocked into silence by my previous display.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Ah... no one outside the government and Infinex has ever heard of, much less seen the capabilities of Lyte before...</span><br/><br/>Turning swiftly in a semicircle, my silver hair whipping across my face, I observed the woman who had called to me before, wondering as to her eventual response. I somehow knew from her prior actions that she would be the first to speak.<br/></div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #40FFFF"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Kenos (zoruna)</span></span></span></span><br/><br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">You quickly approach the middle ring of the city, which has suffered moderate damage. Many survivors had passed you by already, all seeming to have to same goal in mind: Get out of the city. You hear an extremely loud and unusual scream rising from the center of the city in the distance, the silver tree having just risen from the ground barely minutes before. You soon receive a signal in your implanted Comm-chip, and as you activate it, a voice crackles in gradually. It's Infinex Chairman, Arlec Johenson.<br/><br/>"Project Temperance. I have an update on your mission status. All previous mission parameters are now rescinded. You are now designated to find and retrieve Codename Silver immediately, then bring her back here to the Headquarters. Do not stop to assist any civilians or personnel, even should they belong to Infinex. You are authorized to kill or incapacitate anyone who attempts to stop you. Silver is your single priority, is that clear?" There was a brief hesitation, when Chairman Arlec spoke once more. "And also, should operative Silver try to override my orders with orders of her own, ignore them. This is your sole mission. I expect an update within ten minutes if you have not already found her. Arlec out."<br/>After a low beep, the connection is cut and you sense your cybernetic driver being updated with your new mission status.</div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #BFFF00"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Andrea and Erik</span></span></span></span><br/><br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">The man continues to approach Andrea with no response, until he is but several feet away from her and the child. Crouching down on both feet before you, he glances at the child, then back to her, grimacing slightly.<br/><br/>"This kid's better off dead than alive in a wreck of a city like this anyway." He looks you in the eyes, "Surely you can't deny that..." With no regards to Andrea holding the child he puts a hand on the little boy's forehead, which is matted with sweat and cold.<br/>"It seems he's just about reached his limit anyway." He raises the gun in his other hand and presses the barrel of it against the boy's temple. "Shall I do the honors, or shall I let you do it?" Either way will bring me a bit of satisfaction, but don't..." his expression darkens, "make me decide for you... I hate taking responsibility for other people."<br/><br/>After several moments pass, the woman named Sam limped up behind Jake, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jake... please not right now. If not for the kid, then for me? <br/><br/>As she touches his shoulder, Andrea notices movement out of the corner of her eye, and sees a horribly injured police officer approaching silently, nodding to her. It seems they heard her shouts and came to investigate. Before Sam or Jake realize they are there, a shot rings out, and Jake yells in agony, his pistol clattering harmlessly to the side as he clutches his now bloodied hand. Sam pulls back in shock.<br/><br/>"Guess losing a couple liters of blood isn't enough to screw up my aim after all, eh Jacob?"<br/><br/>---------------------------------------------<br/><br/>"We need to go, now." Aaron says gruffly, placing a hand at the pistol on his hip. "That came from the direction of the police department, which means that woman may be in for some trouble..."<br/><br/>Aaron, not waiting for a response, and with a more determined look on his face, marches of around the corner of the demolished subway station, calling back quietly, "Looks like our introduction is going to postponed for a bit. So you coming?"<br/></div></div></div></span></span></span>