1 ProtoElectrica

Domison hated death. The abrupt end of a book with so many unwritten stories. So many chapters left unpublished. It never seemed fair to him how easy it was, like snuffing out a candle. These thoughts and more were racing through his mind as his squad's armored civilian truck ambled along the roadway. The only color on the street was that of the always-revolving cycle of advertisements shimmering in the air above the populace. New cerebral implants, limb replacement, and cutting-edge optical replacements allow a spectrum of sight like never before! It never seemed to end and the goal was all too clear, after all the updates were ever-present and never free.

The neon lights playing along the air cast a luminous glow that held an illusory promise of extravagance. Everywhere around the truck was so loud with flashing lights and color that one could almost miss the misery just below the boisterous facade. The bodies he saw shambling through the tight streets and alleyways below the lights were little more than zombies. People dressed in faded clothing far too big for their emaciated bodies stepped over those who had collapsed minutes or perhaps days prior. A congression of men in scuffed, black leather vests and a varying assortment of metal limb replacements surrounded a young woman, jeering and shouting out words that Domison could not make out. On every corner there was someone peddling black market replacements, all generations old when it came to the technology used, dooming any potential buyer to nasty software glitches and issues with neural mapping.

This part of the city, smashed between the metropolis of Aurora and the shanties of Old Town, was called the twilight market. Faulty tech was the least wandering citizens had to worry about here. Every back alley housed nefarious deals and merchants that would barter for any product. This place was made possible by filth and for filth. A cool, old rage started to shimmer in the pit of Domison's stomach, dragging up memories poorly buried.

Domison closed his eyes and sat back, ignoring the beating neon lights & destitute populace. Using his cerebral implant he brought up a video of his pup one last time. His big fluffy dog was waiting for him after this was all over, so he had to be sharp. After all, who would feed his big guy if he didn't make it home? He held onto that feeling for a moment, cherishing the video as it played on the back of his eyelids. It was a short one, taken just a few days before when he had brought home a whole roast pig to share with his puppy. Slapping chops and little howls of pleasure abound. He smiled slightly at the thought of his dog that could no longer technically be considered a puppy, before allowing himself to come back to reality. It was time to focus on the mission.

Tonight they would finally make a difference that could bring ProtoElectrica down a peg, if not put an end to them entirely, depending on what data they could swipe. A small smirk played across Domison's lips as he thought this and he opened his eyes to see the personnel carrier had left the cramped streets between the mega-buildings and was now lumbering through Old Town. Apartment buildings hundreds of years old leaned out over the streets. While there were huge cracks running through the concrete foundations, cybernetic stents could be seen running along the edges of the facades and holding the crumbling forms together. The drive through old town was longer than the journey through the edges of Aurora and the Twilight market, but somehow slightly less depressing. People on this side of town tended to be homebodies. They woke up, went to work, came home, and repeated.

Shanty-esque buildings were left behind twenty minutes later and the interior of the armored vehicle started to get stuffy. Six figures sat in resolute silence, wrapped in a carbon fiber mesh that was equipped with armor plating across more vulnerable areas. Domison couldn't be sure whether they were running through mission details on their neural's, or perusing through personal data as he had been, but either way, every one of them was ready for what was to come next.  On the horizon the ProtoElectrica manufacturing plant loomed, reaching into the sky with huge exhaust ports spilling chemicals into the clouds. It was almost time and within the next twenty minutes, he would be able to see the high metal walls that the company used as a deterrent from entering the facility.

As the truck broke free of the outer city and began to approach the city limits, a gruff voice broke the silence, "Alright people, I know we have gone over this a thousand times, but tonight is the night and there is no room for mistakes. As we know, this P.E. plant is housing their largest research facility and is responsible for 65% of the company's output on the side of the hemisphere." Sam, the commanding officer, intoned.

" Our ETA to the outer gate is 15 minutes. At that time we will employ the cutters on the outer high wall marked on your cerebral HUD. Timing is everything here folks as the perimeter guard will be patrolling past our entry point approximately thirty-five minutes after our approach." His steely gray eyes washed over the 5 people sitting across from him in the back of the personnel carrier, ensuring the words did not ring hollow. "That means we get out, carve the hole and move. It is the night guard and there won't be any staff at the facility tonight, but that does not mean we can be complacent. As I said earlier, there will be no room for mistakes tonight. Once inside the main research facility, we gather what data we can set timed explosives and then we leave. The explosive charges aren't massive, but they should be enough to collapse the main research facility. Once we have the proof we need we bring them down, and we bring them down hard."

The vehicle raced down a dirt road for several miles once it left the city limits, electromagnetic shocks absorbing every bump. The team began to examine their gear individually, going through final checks on magazines, unstrapping and re-strapping armor plates on their suits and vests to ensure the perfect fit. Everyone was razor focused, as the timing of everything would be essential. While the charges were fairly small, the facility was rumored to also house a nuclear plant and they had no idea how large the potential blast sight could be, despite Sam's reassurances.

Shadows danced along the ground as the vehicle approached the 15-foot-high metal fencing. As soon as the wheels ground to a halt at the outer perimeter 2 black armor-clad bodies dashed out from the matte black personnel carrier, dragging a large rectangular device behind them. As soon as the rectangular piece of machinery was brought up against the dully shining metal gate, it seemed to magnetize to its surface. Moments later, four cherry red lasers splayed out from the center of the device and cut a hole into the fencing. Within seconds an eight by ten-foot portion of the wall fell away with a metallic crash and the truck continued through the hole, driving right over the makeshift door they had just cut away and the device which allowed entry.

Empty streets lit only by pin straight lamp-posts stretched out like a maze, leading to different facilities. The roads within this plant were pristine, unlike the cracked asphalt lined with garbage in the city. The only commonality was that every building was a different shape and height, but here, there was no light shining from within any of the structures. Some of the buildings had looming smokestacks and cavernous warehouses, while others were small and reminiscent of convenience stores. The surroundings were eerie, but what was the most disturbing was the ludicrous amount of military bunkers and crates with 'MIL-TEC' stamped on the side stacked everywhere. 

"Alright, we are in! From this point on we get to the main research facility, gather any data we can and place the charge. It will be a sprint from here. Within the next thirty minutes, the patrol will find our breach and alert the facilities security team. If we play this right, we might all make it out of here. Everyone set your internal HUD for a thirty-minute timer and then let's get to work." Sam said, receiving 5 sharp nods in return. Without another word the six rode through the eerily silent facility, racing towards the looming structures in the middle of the industrial complex. The mission had begun in full swing.

The remainder of the drive from their makeshift entrance to their main target was a blur for Domison. As soon as the truck pulled to a stop in front of the main research facility, six slick armor-clad forms dashed out of the truck, and began sweeping the first floor of the dimly lit building. There was no one working this late in the compound, so only the emergency lights running along the floors were present. The tubes along the walkway shone dimly, creating a stark contrast of shadows along the polished metal hallways. After ensuring there was no one on the main floor, the six-person team split into three groups of two. One was set to guard the main floor, another to start searching the top floors for data. The last group was Domison and the commanding officer, Sam, they would be taking the sub-levels.

Domison and Sam approached a large elevator platform. It was big enough to be considered a service elevator, yet it still had the inconspicuous appearance of a civilian lift. This façade was completed by the ProtoElectrica advertisement posted along the back wall, claiming 'The new you is only a single operation away!'. Domison shivered in disgust before his tactical mindset kicked back in again and his cold emotionless visage returned. "We'll be heading all the way down Dom. These bastards tend to keep the nasty stuff at the very bottom." Sam said as he clicked a button labeled S-12 after removing his jack from the console, allowing access to the previously restricted floor. Sam stood and tucked the small device back into his pack as the doors slid silently closed.