Old Earth

The screen in front of you flashes on, revealing a swirl of colors; like on a computer when your listening to music. However, instead of music, the automated voice of a woman plays. "Good morning [insert name here], today is the final process of your registry. You have endured rigorous testing and countless trials to come to this stage. Where many have failed, you have succeeded. Now your real test starts. You will endure more trials now than you have ever imagined in the name of humanity. You will brave the contaminated surface world in order to restore a piece of history that was once lost. Though you will work for contracts, remember that you also have a responsibility to the Keep and to mankind. Congratulations, and may luck be with you as you carry the future on your shoulders. Please report at 7:00 AM to the Seeker HQ to finish your ID registry. You are now, a Seeker."

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The message on the terminal screen flashed a final time and then faded to black, leaving behind a small white line with a dot in the middle like when you turn off your T.V., before going completely dark. Alice was excited. More so than she had been in years since the passing of her father. Oh sure she was happy with her job, doing repairs and designing new technology for people who where already seekers. But now she was finally going to be a seeker as well. See Dad, I'm making it. One step at a time, she called out in her thoughts. The mechanic lifted her fingers from the terminal pad and slid her right hand back into her glove, balling her hand into a fist to get a feel for the fabric. Alright, Time to go.

Alice turned away from the terminal and crossed through the garden replica of Old Earth. As always it was breathtakingly beautiful. The lush green of the grass, the allure of the trees, and bubbling spring that called out in suppressed giggles in the center. Alice remembered younger days when she would play with her father in the biopark, laughing and giggling like that spring now. The images seemed to play before her eyes as she remembered them. Alice saw a little girl in her image being spun around by a man almost twice her size, a large grin on his face as he made flying noises. Then as he set the girl down laughing, she ran toward Alice and passed through her. Alice had to reach up and wipe a tear from her eyes. When she had lowered her hand the image was gone, lost to her memories.

She smiled slightly and pushed past the garden to the elevator. As usual there was a guard stationed at the elevator to guard against unauthorized entrance. Alice approached and pulled out her permit for the governmental tier. "I need to get on," Alice said. The guard didn't even bother to look at the permit.

"I'm sorry, but the lift isn't open yet," he said steel faced.

"Oh come on! It's only fifteen minutes early! I'm going to be late!" Alice complained.

"I'm sorry, but its protocol. I can't let you on yet," the guard responded.

"But I just came down on the lift an hour ago!" Alice cried. "This is ridiculous!"

"I don't care. The lift is closed on this level until 7:00 AM. No exceptions," the guard replied, crossing his arms like closing a gate on the lift. Alice sighed and turned away annoyed, crossing her own arms as well. "Great, first day and I'm late," Alice mumbled.

Sheffer took a deep breath of the garden air, strolling across the green grass, the setting quite tranquil. Even though all air was sent through a large filtering process, it still seemed fresher here, and he couldn't help but enjoy it. Glancing upwards, he found a light blue sky, a yellow sun blazing above. It was all, of course, an illusion; a series of holographic images to give a person the sense of actually being outdoors. It was almost too realistic, Sheffer even feeling a slight heat coming from above. Some had gone to great lengths to make the Colonnade the most comforting as possible.

Letting his eyes wonder back to his path, the planned events of the day started to play through his head. Only a few days ago, his former Seeker group had disbanded. Fortunately, the cause of such a thing was not because of some sort of devastation. It was simply funding. The group had done well for a few years, having been the one Sheffer had worked within since his training had been completed, yet soon, they hit a streak of bad luck. Multiple malfunctions of equipment, members falling ill at unneeded times, suddenly not capable of finding artifacts... it just molded into one large case of sudden failure. With no other options as they grew closer and closer to debt, the group figured the best solution would be just to end it before things got worse.

Even though Sheffer was disappointed with the whole outcome, he was only relieved that it was not of something else, particularly something evolving death. Yet, after the group parted their ways, he did not want to stop being a Seeker. It was, quite literally, in his blood to continue such an occupation. It had almost become his way of life over the years. So, with new determination, he went searching for a new group, and lo and behold, one had just formed. Of course, there were a couple of beginners, but he didn't mind. He just wanted to get back to what he did best.

Finally reaching the end of the garden area, he saw the elevator in sight, making his way towards it. He was scheduled to meet his new partners in a few minutes down in Seeker HQ, and the only way to arrive there was by the lift. As he approached, he couldn't help but overhear a conversation between a young woman and the guard stationed there, frowning slightly at the words.

He watched the woman stalk off after a moment, he himself sighing some. Just what he needed; a perfectly functioning lift that happened to be closed for no particular reason.

With nothing else to do, he approached the woman. Having already put two and two together, he had realized she too was a Seeker. How many years she had under her belt was beyond his guess, but the government tier pass she had clutched in her hand only solidified his presumption.

"It amazes me how things tend to work around here sometimes," he said, the woman looking over to him.

"Why would there be a need to close the lift?" he asked, looking back at the guard with annoyed frown. "I mean, it really hasn't happened before..."

He shrugged, turning back to the Seeker. "Guess the authorities always have there reasons."

Sheffer brushed away his irritated state of mind then, offering a hand to the girl, a small grin forming on his lips. "Name's Sheffer, by the way."

Jack Rivers awoke in his small dreary house, "I've really got to find some more work last pay check is cutting it close" Jack said with a sigh. "I wonder if I can find any more seeker groups looking for a temporary assault guy? I should go down to Seeker HQ and find out."

Jack got up and got dressed in his normal clothes, his house was empty and cold. Jack went to his kitchen and switched on his T.V so he could listen to the news with his breakfast, It was a message from the current president Jack never had taken the time to learn his name.

"There is a new curfew on lifts they will now be closed from nine thirty pm till seven am unlike the previous ten pm till six am." The T.V then swapped to other news.

"What time is it?" Jack thought glancing at his watch "six thirty five, crap I'd better head out without food this morning." Jack gulped down his coffee, turned off the T.V and bolted out the door.

"HQ, HQ, HQ, It's uh that way right?" Jack thought to himself as he walked off in the direction of the nearest info hub "Okay if I'm here then the HQ should be right over there?" Jack said looking at the map then walking off in the new direction "Oh boy today looks as if it's gonna be great!" Jack mumbled sarcastically. "Aha here we are the lift! and it only took me twenty minutes" Jack said after wandering around a bit. Approaching the lift he noticed the two others but he decided he would ignore them unless they bothered him.

"Sheffer? I've heard that name somewhere before," Alice said, pondering it in her thoughts. Sheffer, Sheffer, Sheffer, I wonder if it could be... "Ah!" she cried suddenly. "You must be Sheffer Hawkings? At least I think that was the name listed. Lucky break! I'm Alice Hafer of the newly start group Salvation. I'll be your Solarist. Not only that, but I'm the best at what I do. If you need something fixed or repaired don't hesitate to ask!" Alice said with a giggle.

"Excuse me? What time does the lift open now? I thought it was six-thirty?" a new voice said from behind Alice, breaking her streak and causing her to jump a foot in the air.

"H-hey! Didn't anyone ever tell you its not nice to sneak up on people. You scared the bejebus out of me!" Alice scolded trying to calm herself. "It opens at seven according to the guard over there. Which gives us about five minutes," Alice continued once she'd regained her composure.

Hope ducked her head a little bit at the scolding though a small smile played in her eyes. She hadn't meant to sneak up on anyone, in fact, she was fairly certain that she'd made a rather obviously direct route towards the lifts. Though, she couldn't deny it was rather amusing watching the other woman jump, it wasn't often she was accused to spooking some one.

She sighed and glanced at her watch, her anxiety not being helped by the shortage of time before they absolutely had to be there. Hope hated being late. "I didn't meant to startle you," she said in way of an apology. "I assume you're waiting for the same thing then, I heard you mention Salvation as I was walking up. I'm Hope Haydenson," she added, somewhat shyly. It wasn't until then that nervousness joined the anxious feeling. She was excited to finally be getting to put her training to work, but at the same time, it was a rather nerve-wracking wait to get started up.

Sheffer looked somewhat surprised, glancing between the two women. He had already met two team members, and soon, there would be no need to even bother arriving at the HQ at the rate things were going. Both happened to be female as well, but that truly didn't bother him. Female Seekers tended to put more logic into situations before action, and usually had the smarts for their job as well. Two great skills for their expertise.

"Nice to meet you Hope," said Sheffer with a small grin. "I presume you'll be our medic."

He already knew his words were true. The takers of the remaining two spots had yet to be revealed, but Assault Seekers tended to be strong and threatening, trained to defend and attack. Hope appeared an average size for someone of her stature; not too thin, but neither a muscle-bound machine. She would tend to any injuries Sheffer, or the rest of the team, could receive down on Old Earth. A very important position in his opinion.

His team was already looking promising...

Hope smiled her usual warm smile and nodded, "You would presume correctly. I'm surprised they've put me on a team so soon though." With a slightly bashful smile she shrugged, "I'd trained in the Medical field for a while but I'd only actually finished the Medic training a few weeks ago."

As soon as she had said it, she'd almost regretted it, though she masked her expression the best that she could. I hope they don't think less of me, being new and all, she thought to herself. She was probably being silly, everyone was new at some point in time. But from what little bit that she'd heard before she interrupted, both these individuals seemed to be rather practiced in their jobs. Medical school and Medic training were similar, yes, but they were also very different, focusing on very different aspects.

Well, she decided, if that is actually the way they see it, you'll just have to prove your worth. Though she sorely hoped she would not have to. Using her training meant that some one was hurt. And down there, she'd learned, some of the most minor things could end up being life threatening.

"I'm sure you'll do great Hope. I'll fix the equipment, you'll fix us, right?" Alice said giggling a bit. "Now, looks like the lift is open. Lets get going," she said happily, bounding up to the elevator and pressing the down button. Lights above the lift tracked it's progress as it descended from the fifth tier, counting down 5, 4, 3. Then, with pinging sound, the elevator door slid open and Alice jumped inside and pressed the 1st floor button. "So, why did you guys decide to become seekers? Sorry if its a personal question. You don't have to answer if you don't want, but I thought it would be nice to get to know each other since we'll be working with each other.

"When I finished my internship for my last semester of Medical school, I'd decided I couldn't deal with the individuals who tried to walk into the Emergency ward for an ingrown toenail and that type of stuff. I'm patient but not quite that patient," she said with a wry smile. Then she shrugged, "I still had my heart set on doing something in the Medical field, something that would actually make a difference so I applied. Worst that could happen is they tell me no and I'd have gone back to the Ward. I guess I got lucky," She finished with a grin. "What about you?"

Sheffer shrugged, considering the query. There wasn't anything too trivial of explaining how he came to be an Intelligence Seeker, only the small pang of sorrow that it involved. Death within the family was never an easy endeavor...

"Nothing to amazing for me..." he began, speaking casually. "After my parents died, I decided to follow their steps and be a Seeker. It had already interested me before, and I was in the right shape, physically and mentally, to do so. There really isn't many other occupations on the Colonnade that are, er, that appealing in my opinion." He chuckled. "Otherwise, after I finished school, I immediately went into training. Learned the ropes quick, passed with flying colors, so long and so forth. And now, here I am. Four years in, and no serious downfalls."

"Now, still need to hear from you," he said after his small story, looking down to Alice.

"Well lets see. I guess it's the same as you Sheffer. My father was a seeker, Johnathan Hafer. You might of heard of him. His group was well known. They called themselves the Peace Core after the Old Earth organization in the history books. He was an intelligence runner like you. He used to tell me all kinds of stories about his adventures and the things he found while out on a contract. His tales were always so fascinating. Even though he was always gone, I didn't miss him as much because when he did come back I new he'd tell me a story. But then one day he left and never did come back. I wanted to know what happened to him, but his group never wanted to talk about it. Shortly after they disbanded. It took a while to work up to being able to take the seeker exams, but I finally did it. I wanted to know what happened. I thought maybe I'd find something out. Who knows," Alice explained. Just then someone shouted to hold the door and Alice just reached the button in time. "Yea, room for one more. No problem," she said.