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Connecting to server…Connection Failed…Connecting to server…Connection Failed…Error: GRID not found…Please relocate to-
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Unit 78 woke up with their head ringing and a burning sensation in their side. The concrete and rubble they had fallen asleep on proved to be a terrible choice of bedding. The display in their helmet flared up warnings about extreme heat and smoke inhalation, prompting the enforcer to spring to their feet. An action they swiftly regretted as their head began to spin.
“Command, requesting orders,” they rattled off into their comm out of habit. Yet, they were met with no response, not even static. “Shit,” they cursed as the reality of the situation made itself evident.
The surrounding building was a mess like a bomb had gone off. Which, if their memory served, was probably close to the truth. Unit 78’s squad was being transported past Old-Central when something hit them. If the read-out in their helmet was to be believed – a big if – then that occurred about three hours ago. Now Unit 78 was alone. The scattered equipment and limbs of their squad confirmed as much.
“But where…? Shit,” 78 backed away from where they were standing. A smoldering piece of the wrecked transport had hung above them precariously. It was no small miracle they weren’t crushed in their unconscious state. “Command, requesting orders,” they again said out of habit.
“CO, requesting orders,” 78 pleaded in confusion. Alas, the sight of their commanding officer’s severed arm, complete with the patch that signified their rank, quelched their hopes. “Now what?” They sat down on a large piece of rubble.
The enforcer looked down at their body. The tactical combat gear that had served them well was torn up and covered in ash. A huge red gash in the side evoked a squeamish sensation in their gut that 78 didn’t even know they were still capable of.
“Protocol unclear,” the unit coughed. “Tracking down the Deviants responsible would be the normal response, but to perform such an action without orders from Command would be a breach of Protocol. The CO would be a stand-in for Command in the instance that they cannot be contacted, but that is also no longer an option.” The enforcer looked back at his superior’s remains. “It would be best to wait for further instructions before proceeding…”
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Unit 78 waited and waited and waited. The hours ticked by slowly on their helmet’s display, and the blasted-out concrete building gradually darkened as the day turned to night. The only light that remained was the faintest embers from the crash and some of Unit 78’s light-up equipment.
“Command has yet to reestablish contact,” 78 admitted. “Having been out in the field this long, the only reason they wouldn’t check in was if they had come to the conclusion that I was dead,” the enforcer realized. “New course of action: change position and reestablish contact on my own,” they resolved. “It is in breach of regular protocol, but procedures have broken down, and exceptions can be made in extreme circumstances.”
With no other option, 78 stood up and walked out of the destroyed building, but what they found was no better. Old-Central was an infamous ghost town filled with wrecked buildings and the stench of death. Nothing chose to live out here, and the few that did were not beings you wished to make contact with. But those were just horror stories spread by Deviants 78 assured themselves. The only danger was being lost and alone, where getting injured or trapped would mean the end of you.
Unit 78 ventured into the city, their path slow and tedious. The street was constantly interrupted by collapsed buildings. While the buildings were often too ruined to have any consistent pathways. Several times the enforcer was convinced there was no way further forward or that they had trapped themselves. Yet, with nothing better to do than search, they’d eventually find some esoteric way forward.
Thankfully, they were at least alone, not beset by any exterior threats. Even then, they still had their sidearm, more than capable of Marking a few Deviants. The thing was, Unit 78 began to think they might have preferred the company. The constant and familiar chatter from their connection to the GRID was missed more with each passing moment. They longed for the comfort and security of their squad’s strength in numbers. Above all, 78 missed the feeling of an active city. The hum of electricity, the sound of vehicles, working lights, anything would be better than this dead metropolis.
“Shit,” 78 spotted a group of figures up ahead. “Don’t move!” They pulled their sidearm and readied to fire. Yet, the figure did not respond. In fact, they didn’t even flinch. “You are in violation of multiple Central ordinances! Surrender and die!” Normally, such a threat would trigger the target’s flight or fight response, but no such luck.
“I said-!” the unit approached closer, their finger on the trigger. “Oh,” they relaxed their guard. The figures, they were people, just not living ones. They had been living in the area by the look of their clothes and makeshift camp. “Had been,” being the keywords. The group, maybe a family, or small group of friends, looked to have expired relatively recently. No more than a week ago.
“It’s for the best. It would have been a waste of ammo regardless,” 78 shook their head and moved on.
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Unit 78’s journey into the city proved to be a fruitless exercise. Their comms were completely busted and wouldn’t be working again anytime soon. There were no signs of life and even fewer signs of supplies or other units. There was, however, a large tower-like structure still intact. With no other good options, the enforcer tried to climb the construct.
It wasn’t so bad at first. Plenty of stairs and railings still existed on the lower floors. But, the climb became increasingly more difficult very quickly. The remains of the stairs became more and more narrow. While the floors went from mostly solid, to full of holes, to barely there. Worst of all, the structure’s stability seemed to be no more than an illusion presented by its exterior. Inside, the building looked ready to collapse any second.
This would all be bad on its own, but 78 found themselves slowing down further and further. At first, the unit didn’t notice as they had to reduce their pace anyway to navigate the increasingly dangerous floors. Though, after a while, the 78 realized they were practically dragging themselves from room to room. They hadn’t been paying attention, but the red gash had only grown further and further since their travels began. It might have even been infected at this point. Whatever the case, after about a dozen floors, the enforcer stopped to rest by a window.
They had a lovely view of the blasted-out city, but that was about it. They doubted anyone or anything would find them up there, so safety wouldn’t be an issue unless the floor caved in beneath them…Which it might. The problem was that 78 didn’t have the energy to care anymore; they just wanted to rest.
“This…” they coughed, “is what I get for breaking from protocol.” They checked their vitals through their helmet’s display. The device assured them that while they would need medical attention eventually, the need was not immediate. The burning in their side seemed to contradict that, but when had their helmet ever been wrong?
Night had fallen entirely on the city, so 78 could not even locate where they had come from despite their vantage point. What a sorry state they were in, but it was not hopeless. There was always tomorrow.
“Command always has the answer,” Unit 78 affirmed, “they’ll come through, as soon as they find me…as soon as they find me…” The enforcer drifted off into sleep. They were tired, so very tired. Just a little rest and they’d be back to exploring tomorrow. Maybe they’d even find a medical station to fix their wounds. Better yet, some working comms. If worse came to worse, they could find their way back to the crash site and scavenge. Probably should have done that in the first place, but oh well, that’s what tomorrow was for…
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Following the chain of command is vital to smooth operations, but always ensure there are exceptions in the case of extreme circumstances.
Geez, it's been a while since my last GRID story, huh? But it's not like it took...Holy shit, two years! Well, see you again in 2024 when I randomly decide to write another story set in this universe.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.
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