Markov was, as ever, full of life. Even in the reaches closer to the barrier were active. Citizens, surviving by the skin of their teeth on this harsh, unforgiving world, were moving to and fro, going about whatever business they had that day. Noise aplenty even with the dangers beyond the barrier so close. Their entire world could come to a ruin in an instant if the barrier ever failed. Ecker knew the dangers quite well. Mission after mission had seen him outside the barrier, whether it be to root out and destroy ravaging zoids, search for useful items of technology among the many ruins or patrol the surrounding landscape.
That was a life ago, when he had been a mech pilot in the Pilots Union. Yet not so long that the memories of those missions were still burned fiercely into his brain. Especially his last mission.
Ecker ran a hand through his gray-streaked hair, scowling at his thoughts, a half-chewed cigar between his teeth. He never actually lit the cigars, but they were ever present. Something he picked up from his old man. A reminder of where he came from.
The air was hot, as usual, with Ecker wearing a tight, short sleeved shirt and his usual pilot pants. His belt held his pistol, ever needed on this world, with a pair of shades covering his green eyes. A pack was slung over one shoulder containing food and drinks he had just purchased. His destination? Home. A hovel of a place he rarely visited these days ever since he had been discharged from the Union. One large room with a mattress, table and small kitchen. Little else except for the lavatory. At least it had a window so he could get a view of the outside world - such that is was. Around him, other citizens moved about, ignoring him, some keeping their distance, his presence alone enough to keep himself from receiving unwanted attention. Not that he minded. The regular citizenry were largely shielded from the world outside the barrier. They had no clue what was really waiting for them. Ecker knew all too well.
Eyeing those he passed, he felt a rage building up inside of him. Anger at those who he had, in the past, sworn to protect. What did they know of suffering? Of loss? His anger was imbued with sadness. Memories of his unit came forth, unbidden as always, their dead bodies freshly recalled. He fought the emotion, cursing to himself and clenching his teeth. Why? Why was he feeling this madness now? What had triggered these emotions? Ecker stopped and looked around. A normal roadway, if a bit decrepit. Like any other in Markov. Nothing out of the ordinary that might have been a trigger. Others around him looked to be suffering as well. Pained expressions, many holding their heads, some seated and visibly crying. Ecker spotted one man punching a wall, his hand bloodied and broken.
"What is going on?" he muttered, his right hand reaching for his holster. He unclipped the cover and rested his hand on the grip just in case there was trouble.
And trouble there was.
Screams started in the distance as the ground began to shake. Ecker planted his feet firmly to keep his balance, his keen eyes staring off into the distance. Another scream entered his mind, raging in agony, so powerful it nearly knocked him to his knees with its intensity. Staggering away, his Battle Sense kicked in at that moment, a natural ability he had honed over the years. How he had gained the strange power, he could not say, but it had saved him on many occasions. It enabled him to see unlike regular humans. His eyes adjusted quickly as heat signatures moved all around him. The screams intensified, the ground quaked as it erupted right in front of him. Stumbling backward, Ecker caught himself with his hands and rolled to the side barely avoiding the hole that opened up. Emerging from the hole, at a speed he could not fathom, were various sorts of plant life. Fauna, distorted and ghastly, next appeared, some baring large pointed teeth. They were like Ecker he had ever seen before.
'What in the ...' Ecker had no time to finish the thought as a long vine grabbed a nearby pillar and pulled down a section of the building next to him. Jumping away, Ecker could feel the large chunks of the building fall around him. Cursing, Ecker got to his feet quickly and began to run. What was happening? Damn this cursed world.
That was a life ago, when he had been a mech pilot in the Pilots Union. Yet not so long that the memories of those missions were still burned fiercely into his brain. Especially his last mission.
Ecker ran a hand through his gray-streaked hair, scowling at his thoughts, a half-chewed cigar between his teeth. He never actually lit the cigars, but they were ever present. Something he picked up from his old man. A reminder of where he came from.
The air was hot, as usual, with Ecker wearing a tight, short sleeved shirt and his usual pilot pants. His belt held his pistol, ever needed on this world, with a pair of shades covering his green eyes. A pack was slung over one shoulder containing food and drinks he had just purchased. His destination? Home. A hovel of a place he rarely visited these days ever since he had been discharged from the Union. One large room with a mattress, table and small kitchen. Little else except for the lavatory. At least it had a window so he could get a view of the outside world - such that is was. Around him, other citizens moved about, ignoring him, some keeping their distance, his presence alone enough to keep himself from receiving unwanted attention. Not that he minded. The regular citizenry were largely shielded from the world outside the barrier. They had no clue what was really waiting for them. Ecker knew all too well.
Eyeing those he passed, he felt a rage building up inside of him. Anger at those who he had, in the past, sworn to protect. What did they know of suffering? Of loss? His anger was imbued with sadness. Memories of his unit came forth, unbidden as always, their dead bodies freshly recalled. He fought the emotion, cursing to himself and clenching his teeth. Why? Why was he feeling this madness now? What had triggered these emotions? Ecker stopped and looked around. A normal roadway, if a bit decrepit. Like any other in Markov. Nothing out of the ordinary that might have been a trigger. Others around him looked to be suffering as well. Pained expressions, many holding their heads, some seated and visibly crying. Ecker spotted one man punching a wall, his hand bloodied and broken.
"What is going on?" he muttered, his right hand reaching for his holster. He unclipped the cover and rested his hand on the grip just in case there was trouble.
And trouble there was.
Screams started in the distance as the ground began to shake. Ecker planted his feet firmly to keep his balance, his keen eyes staring off into the distance. Another scream entered his mind, raging in agony, so powerful it nearly knocked him to his knees with its intensity. Staggering away, his Battle Sense kicked in at that moment, a natural ability he had honed over the years. How he had gained the strange power, he could not say, but it had saved him on many occasions. It enabled him to see unlike regular humans. His eyes adjusted quickly as heat signatures moved all around him. The screams intensified, the ground quaked as it erupted right in front of him. Stumbling backward, Ecker caught himself with his hands and rolled to the side barely avoiding the hole that opened up. Emerging from the hole, at a speed he could not fathom, were various sorts of plant life. Fauna, distorted and ghastly, next appeared, some baring large pointed teeth. They were like Ecker he had ever seen before.
'What in the ...' Ecker had no time to finish the thought as a long vine grabbed a nearby pillar and pulled down a section of the building next to him. Jumping away, Ecker could feel the large chunks of the building fall around him. Cursing, Ecker got to his feet quickly and began to run. What was happening? Damn this cursed world.