Welcome to Gaia! ::

Much like his comrade, he too opted to try and arrive early but only by about ten minutes instead of fifteen or more. Mostly because he didn’t know what he’d do with his time while waiting. But, when he got near their randevu location, Cypher used the GPS on his ComTech to locate Andreiya and was surprised to see that he was already inside.

The technology offered Cy the exact location and from there he found the closest entrance. “Andreiya,” he spoke loud enough and from a short distance awy so he didn’t startle the Corporal. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

When compared to humans, most members of the vanguard were much taller in size. As such his walk speed was swifter with his long strides. Only a moment passed before he was standing almost shoulder-to-shoulder with the Corporal observing the same view from a high perch.

The cityscape at night time was definitely something worth viewing. Tall buildings cast in silhouette against the darkening sky; streetlights below illuminated the base in perhaps an ethereal glow. Several buildings had lights left on in various and random office spaces giving the illusion of an industrial night sky canvas with box framed lights instead of pinpricks from stars that existed lightyears away.

Nothing like home… at least not in a way he cared to compare.

“Within the city,” Cypher paused to consider. School maybe, but it was much too crowded for him to think of it as a place he liked being. Shopping was far from something he enjoyed and he did not have what humans called a ‘green thumb’ for gardening. “No, not really.”

“Most places I’ve enjoyed being are outside the city limits in more rural locations.” Heights didn’t bother him as he often hiked up cliff sides to lookout points where he could observe more from further away. A different perspective from what he viewed now. “I prefer to find more secluded places that are less crowded; trails, lakes… fields even.”

From a distance away he heard tires screeching and the echo of cars honking angrily at one another.

“The air pollution here is…” Cypher’s upper lip curled in disgust. “Unbearable at times.” there were perhaps stronger words that could be used but it was inappropriate to use them here. But the putrid scent of swamp a** from people smoking some drug in alleyways or outside certain buildings with loud music, to the harsh burning smell of nicotine when someone exhaled a puff of smoke in his face. Even vehicles expelled filthy exhaust into the air in puffs of what looked to be black soot.

“That sounds reasonable.” He’d already done one such exercise with Fysarious, however, the circumstances surrounding that spar were a bit questionable and not one he talked about openly. Things between them were fine now but for a period of time, he had to wonder…

Cypher turned his back towards the cityscape and took note of the parking garage structure.

Thick concrete pillars were spaced out evenly, some displayed signs while all but a couple had scuff marks from vehicles that had brushed up against them. There were dark spots in some of the stalls that looked like standing water but it hadn’t rained in a couple of days which meant it was probably oil of some sort or that gasoline stuff that they got at those stations with the weird snake-like pumps with the pointed nozzel.

Discarded water bottles and trash lay where the slope of the floor they were standing on met the vertical wall across from them.

The place was otherwise empty with the exception of a broken-down car in the back corner that was filled with random garbage. No doubt abandoned as he couldn’t imagine that any living being could fit into that small space let alone live in it.

“I’d be interested in a demonstration later,” not necessarily tonight since it would be late and they’d likely be tired from their training exercise. “I’m curious to know how your upgrades compare to the ones Corporal Fae-Fae had made to hers. I can take you to the place we had practiced at.” It was still a work in progress but he had stationary targets and ones that moved on a track. Predictable but helped with determining travel time for blaster shots and how to lead a target at different distances.

“I have no objections,” although he did feel skeptical of how this would play out since his game went against his natural instincts.

By choosing a blaster as his weapon Cypher had opted for mid-range to long-range combat rather than hand-to-hand. Other vanguards had chosen blades, most likely because they were comfortable with their skills with regard to contact fighting. If push came to shove, yes, he could defend himself if it came down to it. But Cypher preferred to remain at a distance and aspired to fill the role of a scout or sniper depending on what the situation called for.

Fortunately, Andreiya didn’t need to worry much about getting injured, his own weapon hadn’t undergone any modifications or upgrades since their arrival and remained as the base model they arrived with. Retaining the same power level that was probably the equivalent to what Andreyia’s was at when adjusted to its lower setting.

“On your mark then, when ready.”

Prior to their departure, Cypher had spent much of his time pushing himself both physically and mentally to be someone worthy of bringing on this mission. Often time he practiced shooting drills and ran through obstacle courses that could help him better anticipate possible situations where a quick reaction was necessary.

In the weeks that led up to their mission, he felt confident that he had honed his skills enough to be of some value. However, in the wake of the ambush and revelation that Caedus’ starseed was mutated almost beyond recognition; a volatile thing that harmed anyone that got near enough, not even Lindyn was immune to it. Cypher was left with many doubts and reservations about his usefulness to the Vanguard or their goals and wondered if the Commodore had made a mistake by bringing him along.

Even so, he did not remain idle. Ventures out into Destiny City and beyond its borders into more isolated locations, Cypher often went alone but not without purpose or reason. Part of this was to help him better acclimate himself to Earth and the atmospheric differences it presented as well as to maintain his physical capabilities. But also to find safer places to live or at least train where their identities wouldn’t be compromised.

When it came to schooling, he continued his research into new technology, coding, and various engineering courses. Nothing real groundbreaking had been learned but did offer to lend itself to his own personal project.

All of this to remain relevant and yet, from what he recently learned, several Cadets he had traveled here with had already earned their promotions. Cypher, much to his chagrin, was severely lagging behind. Weapons upgrade seemed to be one of the few benefits earned along with what appeared to be a boost in physical prowess with the speed at which Andreyia moved toward him.

When the two of them stood facing each other, he noted that the Corporal held his weapon in his right hand and once he shouted ‘ready’, Cypher moved to seek cover behind the pillar to his right. His slowness to react cost him when the blaster shot grazed his left arm which left a lingering tingling feeling that raced down to his pinky.

More annoying than painful, really.

Cypher reached the pillar successfully and pressed his back to the cold concrete while trying to listen for the sound of shuffling feet or the tap of heels on the pavement. He moved to unsheathe his own blaster and waited with a finger on the trigger ready to fire a warning shot at the first sound of approach.

A second blaster shot was fired and Cypher, under normal circumstances, would have normally tried to peer around the corner to catch sight of a long shadow cast by the overhead lights. But the quickened footfalls were enough to tell him that he didn’t have time to tarry or consider his options.

Don’t think, just do-

Something his father used to often say when he’d spent too long trying to line up his sights. If time allowed, Cypher preferred to weigh his options before committing to anything. However, circumstances rarely afforded him that luxury which is why it was such a hard lesson to put into practice but over time he had learned how to react instead of wait.

Andreiya was quickly approaching and still had about eight seconds left on his blaster recharge which meant that he had about five seconds to find new cover before the Corporal had a chance to get a third shot off. Rather than bobbing and weaving, Cypher pushed himself away from the concrete pillar and ran straight ahead towards the exit where the wire rail created a barrier between the split floors where the ramp slanted downward.

3…

2…

It was a tight fit but he found a gap half way down the ramp there was an area where he could swing over the rail and land on the floor beneath them. Just narrowly missing another parked car, he moved a couple of feet to the left and pressed his back against the retaining wall so that his comrade would have to either lean over to spot him or jump down as well. It was there he waited again with his own blaster ready for Andreiya’s approach.

Once Andreiya came into view, Cypher led his target by aiming his blaster ahead of where the Corporal appeared to be running, and, after quickly factoring in Andreiya’s run speed and the approximate distance between them, Cypher adjusted his aim by a couple of degrees before firing his second shot.

He didn’t wait for a reaction and immediately pushed himself up and away from the retaining wall and ran towards his opponent knowing full well that Andreiya’s weapons was undoubtedly recharged and a third shot was soon to follow.