Bioshock, another lighthouse, another city, another man. (Alpha and Zoney)

[AlphaZero]

When he had first heard the stories, Nick had refused to believe it. A lighthouse in the middle of nowhere hiding a secret enterence to a sprawling underground city that constantly worked towards defending itself from the next global war by creating the most advanced weapons possible. The whole thing sounded like the deluded fever dream of some junkie or shell shocked vet from the war. But something about it had stuck in the back of Nick's mind.

What if in the confusion in the days following The Great War someone had been able to secure the resources needed to create their own secret society. To gather enough people to build it and make it run. In his mind he began to build a vast conspiracy of industrialists, political leaders and land barons that could have made all this possible. He began writing letters, making phone calls, chasing down every quack he could find who had some idea of this place until he was able to put together a more clear picture of what had occured and where to look.

Fifty-two miles from the middle of nowhere he found it, exactly what was described, a lighthouse sitting atop a barren hilltop. Inside it a freight elevator plunged him into depths of the earth and the doors opened to a dozen gun barrels pointing at him. He found himself being hauled out of the elevator and a mask being thrown over his head as he was dragged through the streets, catching glimpses of strange machines gliding low between the buildings and others trudging along roadways.

He leaned against the cold stone wall of the cell they had thrown him in, battered and brused after being thrown a stiff beating to which he had protested, saying that as a member of the press he had a right to be there, something that the guards had seemed to laugh off.

He ran a hand through his tosseled dark hair and let out a heavy sigh, which quickly turned into a groan of pain that left him wondering if maybe they'd cracked one of his ribs during the beating.

"Well, this is a fine fuckin mess...." He said to no one in particular, mainly because there was no one around for him to say it to, so he was left to talk to himself.

 

[ZoneyGirl]

Terra was founded under the fear another great world war, a man who had seen too much on the front lines. The countless death of allies, enemies, and innocent. Something cracked in him, something drove him to make a place that would be safe from the next world war. That would be ready for it. Through the miracle of technology, drive, and desire. Terra was form. Tucked under the Earth's surface, in a pocket between the hot molten core and the crust. The city was formed. Driven by technology, industry, and military power. They were ready for the next world war.

Terra was a city under the iron rule of General Nathaniel Hawthorne. Once a General in the British special forces. He had been on the front lines, he had seen remains so twisted up he couldn't even tell what side they were one, if any at all. A mix of shell shock, desire to protect his family and friends, and to show the raw military might of a brilliant mind. The city was dark and grimy, most of its citizens worked factory jobs or in the mines. They struggled to get food on the table, struggled to have proper medical care, and struggled to survive in life. The lucky members of society were military figureheads, owners of the factories and mines, or just the lucky bastards that brought money, art, and entertainment with them. The city was far from the utopia Nathaniel had dreamed of. The citizens were unhappy and unhappiness lead to rebellion.

The Children of the Surface they called themselves. Led by Gabriel Hightower, a man who had seen too many friends perish in the heavy labor. Too many children get sick from the toxins in the air, and too many people abused by their military overlords. He gave people a chance to fight for what was right, he planned raids on facilities to not only get weapons, but food, medical supplies, and other necessities for the citizens that didn't want to join the rebellion, but needed the help. He relied on various specialized members, his pride and joy were the group of Runners.

Judith had been a runner for years. Gabriel had found her half beaten to death by a solider after she turned him down. She knew the lower districts like the back of her hand. Dressed in dark, form fitting leathers that gave her freedom of movement. Strawberry blonde hair was cut short and hugged her face. She had been tasked with a job from Gabriel himself. Word of an outsider had reached them, a man from the surface had gotten here a few days ago. He imprisoned right off the bat, Judith was to extract him.

She had gotten into the jail, raising a hand to the communication device she shared with her current Eagle Eye. A man perched on a high building with a sniper rifle, watching her back. Ready to take the shot if it was needed. "Alright Roger, I'm heading out of your eye line. Keep me updated if anything big follows," she told the man. Getting a curt reply as she jumped behind the wall of the prison.

She stuck to the shadows and made sure none of the patrols saw her as she made her way to the cell she had been told the man was in. She got up to and looked over dark haired man that look beat up, but alive. She pulled out a metal device and pressed it against the lock. A few seconds later a controlled explosion would destroy the lock on the door and Judith pulled it open.

"If you don't want to stick around here and get executed by a firing squad, I suggest you follow me," she didn't have time to explain. Roger had just given her a warning that a Goliath was going to be making its patrol and Judith did not want to deal with that. She grabbed the mans wrist and start down the she had came, dragging the stranger with her.

She heard it first, the sound of something large and metal coming towards them. There was a small supply closet and Judith forced them two of them in there. She was pressed up against him as she closed the door, barely having enough room to turn around. The Goliath could be heard outside, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. Slow and steady breaths left her lips as Judith's hand when to the EMP device that would at least give them a few minutes to escape the large metal hulk. "Stay quiet," she told the man softly.

 

[AlphaZero]

He wasn't sure if he had fallen asleep, or if had blacked out from the pain the beating had causes him, but next thing Nick new he was being shook awake by someone woman. She didn't look like any of the soldiers who had done such a heavy number on him. He rolled over, letting out a low groan in response to her instructions to keep quiet. He had too many questions, too many things that he didn't understand about any of this. He allowed her to usher him out of the cell, his head throbbing as he tried to get his bearings, tried to piece together what he was seeing but having very little luck. Next thing he knew she was shoving him into a closet and pressing him up against the door.

"What...what's....." The sound of grinding metal, of heavy metal footsteps on the stone floors outside. He froze, his breath catching in his throat as he listened to seemingly impossible sound of a walking machine, "What the hell is...."

 

[ZoneyGirl]

Judith took a deep breath of air in. She could hear it right outside the door, her hand not on the EMP device went against the male's mouth. Silencing any further words, a Goliath was made to seek out dangers. Heightened senses and sensors would find them quickly if a single noise was made and they picked up on it. All she could hear now was her heart beating in her chest. It was a few minutes before she heard the metal hulk head down the hall. Only until she felt it was safe enough to leave the small closet did she open the door. Peaking out and making sure the coast was clear.

She stepped into the now empty hallway and turned back to the man she had been sent to rescue. "That was a Goliath. One of Nathaniel's prized pets for his military. You hear one of those you get somewhere and be quiet. Pray they don't find you," she hissed through her teeth, raising hand to the device in her ear. "Roger, how we looking outside?" she asked the eagle eye.

It was about half a minute later Roger got back to her. The coast was clear and if she wanted to get out, it had to be now. A convoy was coming up to the prison and judging by how it looked. It was the General himself coming to deal with their newest visitor.

She didn't say anything as she led the man through the prison, taking a little extra time to assure nothing saw or followed them. As they got to the wall she tugged on the rope she had repelled down earlier. Passing it to the male. "Start climbing," she had little time for pleasantries. It could be saved for when they weren't in a prison and far from the reaches of the government. Safe in one of the many hidden safe houses they had in the city. Citizens that didn't open support the Children of the Surface, but they also didn't stand for the abuse by the General. They left members move through quiet and wait for the heat to die off. Quiet support, the one they needed most.

Judith kept an eye out as the man would begin climbing up the rope. No more Goliaths and she was grateful for that. Roger was keeping an eye on the convoy, giving her a countdown to how long they had left before shit would hit the fan. They were cutting it close, she could hear the nerves in Roger's voice. The convoy would be here soon and once they knew the prisoner was gone, they would send out the forces.