Chapter 11

People may say I invented the Hop Drive to advance humanity, to further extend its reach into the stars. Or, they might say I did the same for my fellow super-powered individuals, if one can describe them as such. Truthfully, my daughter lived on Mars. I could not let her starve.

-Altered Scientist Richmond Harding, January 9th, 2097 CE

ROYCE AND PETER approached the Hunter Guard in distress as he laid down suppressing fire on a pitiful-looking shack sitting on the side of the street. Royce thought he saw a head poke around the side of the shack as they approached, but it disappeared too quickly for him to be sure.

A girl was lying on the ground beside the Hunter Guard, unconscious, as he continued to put round after round into the shack. Peter knelt beside the other Hunter Guard and switched over to his comms channel. "Situation report."

"Two Remnant contacts," the Guard said, momentarily ceasing fire. "One subdued, the other active and highly dangerous. Almost fully Developed. My partner took a lightning bolt to the chest. Probably KIA."

"Roger," Peter said. "Are you extracting the girl for Containment?"

"Affirmative."

"Continue the extraction. Collins and I will lay down coverª"

A burst of light appeared around the side of the shack and a figure stepped into view wreathed in blue, crackling electricity.

"Go! Go! Go!" Peter said, taking a few shots at the figure as the other Guard slung the girl over his shoulder and made a hasty retreat.

The figure dove out of the way, and Royce took a few shots of his own, though the Remnant was moving eerily fast and managed to dodge each round with relative ease. The figure reared hits fists backward and Peter shouted to move, but it was too late.

The ground under Royce's feet lurched, and the HUD in his helmet fluctuated violently before dying entirely. Somehow, Royce managed to keep his footing, but Peter wasn't so lucky. One of the lightning bolts the figure threw struck the ground by their feet, but the other slammed directly into Peter's shoulder, knocking him flat onto the ground.

"Peter!" Royce called, though the comms in his helmet were surely dead. He removed his helmet and threw it aside, rushing to Peter's side and flipping him over. His entire shoulder plate was gone, and the jumpsuit underneath still smoldered, the stench of burning flesh permeating the air.

Royce heard footsteps approaching and was about to bring his rifle to bear, but a voice stopped him.

"Don't try it," the voice said. "Move and I fry you."

Royce faced the figure, realizing it was a boy no older than eighteen. The lightning coating him reflected hungrily off his ocean-blue eyes, ready to put an end to Royce's life at will. The boy's nose bled profusely, staining the collar of his shirt.

"Where will they take her?" the boy asked. "Tell me."

"No," Royce said, and the boy stepped closer. Royce felt the short blond hairs on his head stand straight up, and his skin tingled as electricity danced inches from his face. "I can't."

"I'll make it simple," the boy said. "Tell me or I will kill you."

"She's being taken to Containment," Royce said. "You'll never catch her."

"Where will they take her?"

"There's not enough time to explain."

"Fine, then. If you won't tell me" the boy leaned down until his face was mere centimeters from Royce's. "Show me."