Welcome to Gaia! ::

((I've been working on a story since like the 6th grade...mind you I'm a junior in college now. I've had a little trouble ironing some things out and even more settling on specifics. But I feel that if I write some of it down, things will fall into place. Join me, if you will, on a science fiction journey of my mind, to a future in my eye. Constructive critiques are much appreciated.))

Chapter 1: The Escape

The rain beat down on the blackened roofs of the slums. A chill wind blew through the alleyway. Xiao shivered beneath her thick cloak. She dodged down another path, the winding maze thoroughly confused her. She hid behind a garbage can in an attempt to conceal herself as much as possible. It was not the cold that made her shake. This was the first time she had ever been beyond the protective gates of New City, and it was the worst experience of her life.

Feet pounded in the distance. As they drew closer, Xiao tightened into a ball, hoping the soldiers would pass by the alley. A voice shout out, "She can't have gone far! Find her!"

The sound grew louder, then passed. After a moment, Xiao allowed herself to sigh. "What was that?" a voice asked, not far from the entrance to the alley. "Who's there?"

She panicked. From beneath the garbage can, she could see the boots approach silently. "Slowly...Come out with your hands up," the man ordered. The sound of a gun clicked.

Xiao quickly looked for a way to escape. There was a pipe on the ground just out of her reach. She would have to dive for it. But could she be fast enough to avoid being shot? She doubted it...Xiao was not trained in any military tactics. Maybe if she rushed him she would catch him off guard. But would she be strong enough to break past? And who's to say there weren't more soldiers beyond him that decided to hang back?

Her throat dried. She couldn't even utter a diversionary sound. "Oh god, I'm going to die right here..."

"I said, come out slow--" the man's voice cut off. His gun fell with a clatter on the wet pavement and his body sank to the ground heavily. Xiao ventured a cautious look around the trash.

All she could make out was a large shadow that stood over 6ft tall. It searched through the soldier's pockets, then picked up the gun. Xiao jumped back into hiding.

Did he see me? She wondered.

"You can stop hiding," a deep voice answered her thoughts. When she did not come out, he continued. "There are more soldiers on the way, with dogs. If you stay there they will find you."

Xiao peeked around the corner again. "W-who are you?" she asked between chattering teeth. She ventured out from her hiding place a little.

"Hmph...Does it matter?" The man turned away and left the alley. Xiao caught a glimpse of a long pony-tail and a large sword that hung on his back.

Xiao couldn't help but smile at the irony. When she was young, her family had always told her of her fortune to be born in New City, and not on the outskirts where lawlessness ruled. But now, her sudden change of fortune seemed to come from this vagabond. It was well known that the citizens of Old City, now known as the slums hated the soldiers with a passion. Lucky for her, one just happened to be strolling by.

"W-wait!" she called out. Associating with people of his type was against the law. But then again, she was already wanted dead or alive. There was no turning back now. "Please, wait."

The man turned his ear to her, his face still concealed by the darkness.

"I-uh...Well...I don't know my way around. If you could help me escape, I'll...uh...I'll pay you," Xiao decided to risk everything. She was surprised by her own desperation.

The man chuckled. "You New Citizens are all alike..."

"Please!" Xiao insisted. She could feel her heart drop.

"...How much?" he said after a moment.

"Huh?"

"How much will you pay for your life?" he turned to her fully. Dogs barked in the distance.

"Uh...Well I only have 500 kilos on me...but I can get more once I find a safe place," Xiao finished with a lie. She was sure the higher-ups would have frozen her account by now.

The man began to walk toward her, then past her as he moved further down the alley. "Wait!" she called.

"Hurry up."

Xiao's heart raced. She jumped up, but her leg cramped from the prolonged uncomfortable position. She followed after him in the rain. He stopped at the dead end. He slammed a heavy boot down on a manhole. When it gave a hollow echo, he nodded. Xiao looked on curiously. He lifted the lid and turned back to her.

"Climb in."

Xiao ran over to the gaping hole. An awful smell rose from the depths. Her nose turned up in disgust. "Ugh..."

She looked back at her savior. "We're going in a sewer?"

The man grunted and pushed her in. Xiao let out a surprised shout. If she thought the alley was dark, the sewers were even darker. She was swallowed into the vortex. Sure her bones would break from the impact, Xiao braced herself for the pain. But instead of feeling concrete at the bottom, she felt herself break water with a splash. Through the water, she continued to fall. Xiao began to choke. He could have at least warned her to hold her breath. She struggled to the surface. Her soaked cloak dragged her down further. Xiao had never been a very good swimmer and now she was paying for it. She her throat burned and she felt her mind go numb...

A hand smacked her gently against the cheek. "Hey...get up..." a deep voice called from a distance.

Odd. It didn't sound like her uncle...and where were the soft pillows? The warm blankets? She opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. That wasn't her ceiling above her. Then her memory crashed through. Her narrow escape from New City, her even narrower salvation, the fall into the sewers...Xiao turned to her side and threw up. Water and sludge were all that came forth, for she hadn't eaten in two days. Her body was finally catching up.

She lay back weakly and looked around to the man with a deep voice.

"W-where are we? Who are you?"

When he didn't reply Xiao sat up. The thin sheet that covered her slipped down exposing her small breasts concealed by only her wet hair and bra.

"Where are my clothes!" she shouted. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She looked at the man accusingly.

"Drying," he said and pointed to a small fire. Sure enough, her clothes were laid out close to the flames. "Now keep silent if you want to live."

He stood and approached a door. The man pressed his ear against it and stayed that way for a few minutes. Xiao was too tired to ask anymore questions. Besides, it was obvious that he wasn't going to answer them.

She examined her surroundings. Now that her eyes were better adjusted to the light, she could make out the room. Save for the fire, there was no light. A cot sat against the back wall of the room with a desk nearby. The desk was covered in ammo and half cleaned guns. One drawer stood open but Xiao could not see the contents.

Against another wall sat rifles and swords of all shapes and sizes. Another question burned in Xiao's mouth. This man could have easily taken her money and killed her. Why didn't he? But she didn't want to give him any ideas if that thought hadn't occurred to him.

"They're gone..." he finally said after a long period of inanimateness.

He moved closer to her. Xiao looked up at him in an attempt to finally examine his features. He was very tall, especially compared to her 5'1". His head barely cleared the low ceiling. His long hair hung loosely about his face, the ponytail probably having fallen free in the water. It dropped down to his elbows. His face was fine, almost feminine. Xiao almost gasped in shock when she noticed. Everything from his sharply angled jaw to his dark green eyes were miraculous. She felt herself blush deeply and hoped the lighting was too dim to show it. Then she scolded herself for thinking of something so silly during a time like this.

He picked up a card off the desk. "Doctor Xianna Il Shang...right? Chief of the SRD?"

The SRD stood for the Scientific Research and Development sector of New City. Xiao had only been in her position for a year. She had high hopes of proving to her superiors that her young age of 23 would not be a hindering factor in her usefulness. However...

"Why did you look through my stuff?"

The man picked up a small bundle of kilos. "To make sure you'd make good on your payment." He pocketed the money. "Half now, half later."

Xiao was beginning to re-think her options.

He sat down in the chair by the desk. "Now...why exactly are soldiers of New City chasing a value citizen of New City?"

"Wha-? How dare you ask me a question when you won't even tell me your name!?" Xiao snapped.

The man leaned back and snorted. "You're in no position to ask questions...damn New Citizen..."

Xiao lowered her head. She hated to admit it but he was right. "Don't forget, you asked me to save you. At least pretend to be grateful," he mumbled.

Xiao supposed there was no way around it. Her secret was going to be revealed to this total stranger. She drew closer to the fire, away from him, and began from the beginning.

((There a lot of holes in my story still. But I hope you enjoyed this tentative first chapter.))

ehhh!? the title's already taken?? so are the names of the city?? crying darn and here i thought i had finally thought of something sweatdrop back to the drawing board. thanks for the input though. glad you told me before i got too attached to the names...those are some of the hardest things for me.

now to find this rhiannon person ninja sounds like a good book, and i love trilogies 3nodding

eek no way...i fear this story may seem very similar if that's the case crying ah well no turning back now.