2.5: Ready for Duty

Setia smacked the side of the computer she was accessing in the office for Alliance headquarters. Alliance was the underground information group seeking to end the conflicts between nations, and unite against the common enemy: the monsters in the wastelands.

She had been in this world for a week, and she had spent that time in various orientations and training regimens for the Alliance, testing her mental and physical and emotional aptitude to be in the field performing missions. She continued to mask her scent around the Alliance members.

She had spent most of her time growing accustomed to this both primitive and futuristic world. They had technology, weapons, research, yet they fought with primitive guerrilla warfare tactics with the Beasts in the wastes, and many fought with sword still.

Downloading her briefing file onto a data disk, she pushed away from the computer desk, grabbing her bag off of the chair next to her. She switched her computer off. Time to get out of here. She kept her gaze downward and avoided contact with anyone until she'd exited the main Alliance building, and gone up to the elevators that led to the surface.

She stared up at the night sky, tinged with a red hue from all the dust, and started wandering the streets toward her home. The city was enormous, built with skyscrapers, small shops, administrative buildings. The city lights at night reminded her of New York city in her world.

She sighed when she stepped through the doors of her small apartment. She tossed her keys on the counter next to her entrance and threw her bag on the couch in the small living room immediately through the entryway. It was small, but it was enough. There was a small kitchen open concept into a small living room, fit with a couch, TV, and bookshelves. Through the living room there was a small door that led to her bedroom, and around the opposite direction there was a bathroom.

She went to her kitchen and pulled a bottle of red wine from the cupboard. She uncorked the bottle and poured herself a healthy glass. As she brought the spicy scent to her lips, she took a deep sip. And remembered fondly the ambrosia she'd so loved in Andruil. This wasn't the same, but it was something. She sighed and sat down on her sofa, bringing the bottle into the living room with her, and turned on the TV, flipping through news stations.

"Eli, come on out!" She sang to her wrist cuff. It dinged, and Eli appeared on the couch next to her.

"No Bachelorette tonight?" He said, gesturing to the TV. She scowled at him.

"It's been a week and I've seen no more signs of the Alpha." She whined. Eli sighed patiently.

"These things take time. The system will work it so you guys meet up." He answered. She nodded. She just had to be patient, which was never her strong suit.

"What's the point of doing this?" She asked Eli. His eyebrows raised, and he looked surprised.

"The point?" He asked. She nodded and took another deep swig.

"Why are we completing these missions in these worlds? I think I deserve more than just returning to life."

"It's the way the system works. The payment for saving your life is this." He stated. Setia swirled her glass, wondering if it was all worth it. Then she shook her head. Of course it was! She didn't want to die.

"Must bore you, observing me." She mused. He snorted.

"Well, you weren't fun to be around when you were pregnant." He said. She swatted at him.

Her communicator, which looked similar to a cell phone, began buzzing on her coffee table. She was shocked, but reached forward to look at it. The number was blocked. She picked it up and put it to her ear.

"Evans." She said. She heard breathing on the other end.

"Setia Evans, you are reporting for duty this week." That voice. Honeyed and layered deep. A voice she never thought to hear again. She knew it anywhere. She'd last heard it as he gasped his last breaths. Darien, her general.

"Sir?" she squeaked, trying to maintain her composure. This was a different world. There was no way it was the same guy. He probably just had a similar voice. She was surely hearing things.

"It's Darien. Tomorrow they will send you out to the Alpha's manor, a secure facility housing some of the greatest research for upcoming military conflicts. We have intel that the council is developing a weapon of mass destruction that can be used against our surrounding nations. Alliance needs that research. You're going to be our eyes on the inside."

"Be ready to leave in the morning, a car will be there to get you." He clicked and hung up. Setia placed the phone back down and leaned back on the couch. I guess she'd better pack.

In the morning, a sleek black car was waiting outside her building for her, where she came out with a single bag thrown over her shoulder. She owned little in the only one month since she'd been here. The car pulled away from the curb, and she stared out at the city streets as they drove around. Suddenly, the partition in the car went up, and the windows went black.

"Please relax, miss, this is part of our security protocols." A voice rang out through the car. She sighed and leaned back. I guess this was to keep people from being able to disclose where the base was.

After what felt like hours, she the door to the car was opened and they ushered her out into a dark room. They pat her down, and searched her for weapons, before letting her through. It was like being in an underground prison. Guards in military uniform stood in every corner, spaced out at intervals. They stared at her stoically, not making a single expression.