The Runner Records

1st Chapter

"Rina, Cade. You're here. Good." Noah greeted us as he waved the Runner he was talking to away. Every time I come to see him, he's always busy organizing runs or watching the news, keeping an eye out for anything on us Runners.

"I've got quite the run for you." I looked at Rina and saw her give me a smile. Rina lives for runs, especially runs from Noah. He's like an idol to her. Well, Noah's like an idol to all of us really.

You see, he's the tracker for our cabal. He's the leader and he's the one that organizes our runs. Whenever someone wants something done or wants to deliver something, they go to him. And he comes to us.

Not Rina and I personally all the time, but Noah's created quite the group over the years. He's got countless Runners and they all want the same thing he does.

Runners go against the Conglomerate and everything that our society holds close to their heart. Instead of giving in to the labour and signing our lives away, we took to the rooftops. We live away from the government and away from it's citizens. We run. And we do that because that government, that society is all just a horrible lie trying to hide the ugly truth. Normal employs just submit to it and go along with it, partly because it's hard to speak out against them and partly because they are on the Conglomerate's side. They protect their own.

"You guys remember how to get down into the Omnistat tunnels?" Noah asked as he walked over to his table and picked up a data chip. Noah's got a nice place here in the Zephyr Transit Hub in the Downtown part of the city. It's only been here for a while, but it feels like home nonetheless.

The Omnistat tunnels are home to another sort of cabal. Led by Rebecca Thane and called Black November, a reference to the November Riots that plagued this city almost 20 years ago. Well, those were the riots that the people started in an attempt to stop the Conglomerate from taking over. Sadly many lives were lost in those fights and it didn't accomplish much.

Noah and Rebecca have very different views on this world and how to fix it, which ultimately ends up with them fighting somewhat. But they knew each other back before the Riots, which is like a whole other lifetime for them. A lot has happened between then and now. And not all of their friends are still around.

"Good. I've got an accomplice down in there, Cade I believe you've met him." Noah continued as he handed Rina the chip. "Does the name Axle ring any bells?"

"Oh, that kid's set up in the tunnels now?" I grinned as I remembered the first time Axle and I met. It was two years ago and he was just joining the Runner's lifestyle. He's just a teenager, but he shows promise. A lot of us joined the cabal when we were just teenagers.

"Why do you need us to get this chip to him? Can't he just come here to get it?" Rina asked with her thinking face on. The gears in her brain are constantly turning and she's always the first to ask questions. We make a good team, her and I. She thinks about the right plan and I carry it out.

"Well, the contents of this chip are quite...delicate. I wouldn't want anyone but you carrying it around." Noah gave a smile, but I could tell there was more about this chip than he was telling us. Of course, it's Noah so if he was keeping a secret than it must've been for a good reason.

"What about Icarus, your star pupil?" I wasn't trying to sound rude, but I guess it was a rude question. Good thing Rina is around to keep my mouth shut, or else I'd have half of this city at my throat. Sometimes I just don't think before I talk.

"He's busy training, you know Faith is getting out of prison in a couple of weeks and he's getting a little anxious to have a word with her." Noah explained and we all understood what he meant. Icarus, the newest member of our cabal, was one of the best among us. Maybe even better than Faith. But he's only heard how much trouble she's caused for Noah and he wants nothing more than to make it right for him.