Reward

Back on the academy rooftop, Xavier managed to still hold on to life for the whole trip. The smell of copper in the air, constantly inhaling the blood scented air, the ramp descended down. Waiting for us below, a team of medics. The group dispersed moving away from Xavier, his eyes going in and out, like he's close to death but holding on. The medics lift him up on a gurney, moving him away, not going to the main elevators though, on the side. Is a larger private elevator, for medics only i suppose. The huntsmen recovered also getting medical attention on the ship. Being tended to by medics. While we exit and go to the strategist or back to our quarters.

The lingering feeling still stayed within me, feeling it get stronger and weaker. What is happening now, this isn't the trance, is it from Xavier? I should consult the doctor again, for now we need to head down. Down the elevator, at last were back at home. And the strategist will hand us our paychecks for what we did. The hatchet hung around my waist swinging as i walked. I should design it as well. Packing up inside the elevator, Sebastian sends the elevator to head down.

Doors open to the cold hallway, the hallway to the planning room. Out of the elevator, to the planning room we walked, how much money will the academy give us for this mission. I ponder.

Sebastian slammed repeatedly on the door, until it opened.

"Sebastian, you and your team, come here." The strategist invited.

"The pilot notified us of a critical injury on their way here. He got shot just as he got on the ramp, luckily the ship came prepared with medical supplies, his condition was about to worsen but the medicine kept him alive, and he is now being treated at the medical facility." He explained.

"But congratulations not only on the recovery mission but. It seems command got hold of a new special armor, along with unique masks for each and every single one of you." He added, new armor and a new mask? I was ecstatic. I didn't expect this to be given to us. My teammates as well, shocked or happy.

The holographic table shifted into pictures of the armor.

"They may look bulky, but in reality they are more lightweight than the armor you're wearing, hell even boasting a stronger layering of protection. Coupled with protection is extra slots to put your magazines. Slots are all equally distributed around the body. So it doesn't look like a backpack worn at the front. You will see the armor in your rooms, specifically tailored for each and every one of you. Masks as well, with a new design, along with better protection compared to the masks now. This is thanks for your recovery mission and also for standing out from other teams before, in terms of skill and the missions you undertook and successfully completed. I will call on your help again another time when something else goes up, but for now, it's best to rest." The strategist concluded.

"Damon, i need you to stay here, the Doctor wishes to see you. The rest of you are dismissed." He concluded

"Well i guess we'll see you back at the quarters then." Thalia said. Walking away after speaking to join with the rest of the team.

The door closed behind me. I stood by, waiting for the strategist to finish working.

"Alright follow me." He ordered. I followed behind him, as he walked the other way to the other elevator.

"Damon, did you get wounded?" The strategist ask, pointing at his own shoulder after asking.

"It's healing for now, isn't bleeding like before, it will heal back up in about a couple of hours because this wound looks deep, somehow blood is no longer gushing out though."

Exiting the elevator, i arrived back at the room of computers and large screens. We entered through the door, ready to explain the vision i received from Xavier.

"Ah Damon. Take a seat." I sat down on an empty chair. Looking at Maxwell.

"Did the test work?"

"Yes, i saw through Xavier, he was tortured by Wildfire."

"Wildfire.... God we need to kill him quickly, this battle against Burnwick went on for too long. What else?"

"I lost sight in the first minutes, Xavier passed out from Wildfire electrocuting him till he went unconscious. Only hearing was left, in the end i heard explosions, explosions of a vehicle near other equipment." I finished explaining to Maxwell.

"Can i have the picture of Xavier now." I slipped the picture of Xavier from my pocket to Maxwell, pocketing it after grabbing the picture.

"Hmm, so you can see if given a specific parabellum merc. Since it's the virus that makes the visions happen, only those with their own virus can be seen through. Those without it are immune to being seen through." Maxwell explained.

"And also, do you feel any pain from that wound on your shoulder." Maxwell places a finger on his shoulder, indicating the wound. Since the fly back home. The wound became less and less painful, now feels numb.

"Painful at first, but as time went on it feels numb." I replied to Maxwell.

"Alright, for now we don't have anymore tests to run. But if you see any vision when you sleep later. Just head to him." Maxwell points with his thumb at the strategist, just sitting silently.

"Alright Damon," Maxwell stood up from his seat.

"That was a brief talk, since i don't have any tests for now, i will notify you later on if i have something in mind, you can try and train yourself to manage the visions, alright. Meeting adjourned let's head out now." We all stood up, to leave the meeting room.

I want to see the new mask and armor now, where do i put my original armor though.

Through the elevator again, i walked to the main elevator, Maxwell entering the planning room with the strategist.

In the main elevator i headed down to the quarters. Eagerly walking to my quarters to see the mask, will it be the face of an animal? A design of a past mask during ancient times? Whatever it is, i want to see it.

I opened the door to my quarters, inside Marcel and Sebastian chatted, gotta ask em on where i put this armor now.

"Hey Damon, back from your special meeting?" Marcel waved, greeting me from the door.

"Marcel where do i put this armor now?"

"Well, on your large table. There are alot of large empty drawers you can use, just put the old armor in there and try fitting the new armor after." Marcel replied.

"Alright, thank you." I thanked Marcel, heading to my quarters, removing pieces of my armor i open the door to my room with the armory door just a few steps in front of me.

Through the armory door i stripped down my armor. Placing it on the table i searched for a large empty drawer to put them in. Time to say goodbye to my old armor i guess... Been through a lot but now i have a better set of armor that protects me far better than this. After finding a large suitable drawer i arranged my armor inside it, resting my dented mask on the top of the armor, goodbye old armor. I pushed the drawer back, sealing the old armor into a storage drawer.

On my armor stand stood the new set of armor i was rewarded with, a black vest with slots around the stomach area were slots for the ammunition, but avoiding the hip sides. The armor itself looked similar to a chestplate or breastplate but black and modern. It's belt quipped with more bags or bigger bags to put things in, with shin guards and extra protection on my thighs and knees. Maybe i can put this hatchet on the belt, looking at the belt. On the side was a suitable strap and slot for the hatchet. Placing it on the belt, it stayed on. Secondly the mask, taking it out to examine the mask. The mask design itself looked to be a normal gas mask with double fans, but the mask looked to have layers of protection around the face, separated squares of steel for protection. The lenses were smaller than the normal counterpart of this design.

I donned the mask, inside it contained a series of hud features, a small radar on the side. Maybe a motion detector, does it also ping allies?

A temperature monitor, right now it's 31 Celsius in this armory. A small diagram of the body. All green, is that to show any injuries sustained on me and the armor?

And the last feature is gas level indicator. To show toxic gas in the air, but i'm not taking this mask off anytime soon. The mask felt comfortable, not hot not cold and nothing piercing into it. Just comfortable to wear.

Removing the mask i see a helmet above the place of the mask on the stand, it had a flashlight feature with the top of the flashlight sticking out, the rest though seemed integrated inside the helmet itself. At the front, night vision goggles rested on the top ready for use. They look fitting for the lenses of the gas mask.