The Shadow Runners (thriller/horror) PG-13

[Draak_Tand]

Tand, grimaced, "Hiking sounds horrible." He grimaced, "Welp, sure beats doing nothing." He hopes it won't last long. "So where, we hiking too?" He asks hoping for some excitement.

[Trinity_Zane]

"You'll see." Trinity stood up, his back towards the supply unit where 23 and 17 were.

He felt the eyes of someone rest on his shoulder, Trinity caught the Runners stare. The fox wasn't afraid to stare him down but felt rather impolite. They were nearing the door when the trio met 23 and 17.

[PO5ID3N25]

((Is anything major gonna happen soon if so I'll stay up if not I'm gonna hit the hay))

[Farewell]

She made contact with the fox giving a snarl, before her glowing eyes broke away looking over at trinity. "Hiking sounds good, I don't like being around this many anthros..." She admitted following behind her hood up as she gruffed. "The sooner we leave the better."
As she followed followed Trinity having her distance. The Serynx stopped as she kept her hands in Her pocket looking over at the husky and fox... Runner 23 and 17

[Jacob Hail]

Aaron and Jacob were about to leave the gate when the husky turned back and saw the trio behind them, turning around and offering a wide smile. "This is quite a nice place you have here, we appreciate you letting us in." He said. Jacob simply kept his back to them, instead glancing out over the waste, swinging the M-14 over his should. "We should get going if we are going to make it to someolace safe before dark. Day and a half walk remember?" "No wait a minute Jacob." The husky replied, making the fox give a heavy sigh. "Where are you runners off to?" He asked Trinity.

[Draak_Tand]

Tand, crouched down putting his shin armor on. He looks up, smiles a glaring warning smile, as he catches up with the other two. *nods* "So we all set?" His face turning emotionless, his eyes still slightly glowing. He gives off a grim feeling to some.

[Trinity_Zane]

A slight pause fell over the conversation as the fox-Trinity put on his helmet. He fed his ears in through the ear holes so it fit him appropriately.

"There's some maintenance required on the towers by Port Station. You know our communications are vital in those areas." His eye studied them, 23 seemed typical.

He could easily identify the escort however with his gun, it seemed like a rather moot point to have a rifle. Mostly likely if you used a gun the shadow creature was close. Then again you could never be too careful here.

"I'm 09. Maybe you've heard of me I'm the Arch-Runner here. This is 01 and 11. If you'd like to come with you can. Seems like Port is on your way to Skyreach." His fist clenched when he said it, he hated lying.

They really were going to Port but for reasons undisclosed. He had hoped they would part sometime, go their separate ways as it were once they passed Port Station. There was a small static charge from the radio in his pack, the one the rogue had given him. But it was faint and quiet.

[Draak_Tand]

Tand puts his helmet on, keeping quiet. He didn't trust the newbies, not like he trusted 09 and 11. "We need to go soon, you know, too make good time." He says, impatience in his gruff southern voice. He pops his soldiers, fingers, neck, waiting for the order to move out.

[Jacob Hail]

Aaron followed Trinity's gaze to Jacob, before looking back at the fox with his eyes glowing in excitement. "Yes! We'd love to come along! Maybe I could help you the repair, Im one of the lead technicians at Skyreach." The huskys grin only got wider, readjusting his glasses once more, leaning in to mumble to Trinity. "And dont worry about Jacob, hes... well, its a long story, but he wont cause to much trouble." Leaning back up Aaron took a notebook out of a satchel, scribbling a few things down. "Ooh this is so exciting! See Jacob, this trip wasnt to much of a waste after all."

[Draak_Tand]

*facepalms* This is goignt be a long walk.

[Trinity_Zane]

It was close to midday when the oppressive heat pushed down on them. He was contemplating a way out, but alas there wasn't one. 23 was too nosy, sooner or later he had to break the truth to him...to all of them.

Trinity could see it now the glimmering mirage of the Port Station. The sea was long gone, dried up by the deep recesses of a starving earth. Little by little he was straying from the usual path. Every so often he check the GPS and the coordinates 99 left behind.

The sand hills were hot and pretty much radiated the heat. Kaida was closest to him now and he had an urge, the gut feeling to tell her he was lying and that they were going to see the scientist. He was confident enough that despite the lie they would all trust him, his reputation as a skilled survivalist would ultimately win them over.

At one point yet again another transmission came over the radio, this one was loud and clear. It came from someone close and he swore softly. He had forgotten to rid himself of the Rogue's walkie. What used to be the cove now remained a giant island of rocks. A mountain of one giant stone carved by the water into four separate pieces.

He lead them to the mouth of the canyon when the Rogue hailed him.

[PO5ID3N25]

"They're here" I mumble to Ripley "I'll guid them in, odd you knew they'd meet me earlier" creepy actually I thought to myself as I walk to get the radio as I broadcast to the runners "enter the canyon walk two hundred and ten paces enter the cave on your left go to the back and knock on the eastern wall, I'll be there to guide you in"

[Trinity_Zane]

Trinity held the radio for a moment. Didn't know what to say, what was there to say? The directions led straight to Ripley the scientist. He was dumbfounded and then began to think...

~They knew 99 was dead. That rogue was Ripley's assistant, she sent him to retrieve us.~

Somewhere, somehow they could see them approach the cove. He tried to locate him but couldn't, Trinity knew he owed an explanation to 11, 01, 17 and 23. He sucked in one deep breath and turned to face them.

"As you all know by now this is not Port Station. I and 99 when we were partners ran into a rogue named Ripley. She was a scientist and unlike all other rogues she sought to better help us understand who these Shadow Creatures are. When 99 died I had to come here. Ripley believed to have found out something that could change our world. If you follow me your questions will be answered."

[Jacob Hail]

Aaron had been completely oblivious, his nose in his book up until now. "What do you mean?" He asked, a confused look on his face. "Are we not fixing communications?"

Jacob on the other hand had not been so naive, knowing something was off the moment they started to go off course. But he didnt say anything, instead slowly making his way to the back of the group so he could keep an eye on everyone. "What exactly are you trying to pull here? Who the **censor** is 99?" He growled, stopping in his tracks.

[PO5ID3N25]

"Ahem" I crackled over the radio "everyone be calm please I would absolutely hate to have to shoot anyone, please follow mister trinity all will be explained"