Beneath Infinity

Views of Mars

The harsh wind tore past Jacob as he pelted along on his sparrow, a steady rhythmic hum eminating from the firing plasma cylinders. Though he kept his head low to conserve a more aerodynamic shape, he still took the opportunity to further embrace the beauty of the red planet through the flecks of sand scattering across his visor. He had seen it many times before, through video and holograph during the Golden Age, but nothing was quite like seeing one of the shining jewels of humanity's Golden age in the flesh. The sparkling white towers of the Buried City glinted in the evening sunlight, reflecting the lost desires of the ancient humans that inhabited them across the barren landscape. The city had once been known as Freehold; the biggest and greatest habitation on Mars. It was the home of countless technological and socialogical advancments, having been the primary destination for much of Humanity's scientific research, coming close second to the Ishtar and Ozza Mons Academies on Venus. The majesty of the city could be felt even now as a ruined carcass of its former self, and Jacob decided it might be just as beautiful this way; trapped, decaying, in the sands of time.

Between a titanic dust dune swept against the crumbling buildings and the jagged Protech factory that was the Guardians' destination, a gargantuan, squat war machine sat in silence; a sentinal over the dunes. It was a Cabal land tank, a kilometer in length and nearly the same in breadth, packing enough thermonuclear firepower to eradicate Deimos from the sky. As they approached the huge grey beast, Jacob was glad for their camoflage. He couldn't see any Cabal from their position but he was in no doubt that if they were spotted they would have only seconds to react before every gun on the tank was pointed at them. The intercom broke his train of through.

"We are entering through a rupture in the North side of the Protech building. I do not know if we will meet resistance but it is likely from what we have seen so far. Follow my lead, as we near the building we shall slow to stalking speed."

Cleo-9 had taken the mission lead as soon as they had touched down on Mars. Jacob had no objection to this - she was the most experienced out of them all when it came to the red planet - but he could tell she was beginning to wear on Brazen's nerves with her well-spoken orders. It amused him somewhat. He glanced over at Ghali speeding along to his right. He could just about make out her wavering shape as she hunched over her steering column; the skimming ripple in the air as her invisible cloak flapped out behind her. She had said very little on the journey to Freehold. She seemed tense. Resolving to ponder the matter further later, he lowered his eyes again to the front of his camouflaged sparrow and kicked against the afterburner with his right boot, blasting forward in order to keep pace with Cleo.

---

The lump hadn't left Ghali's throat since they had mounted their sparrows.She had been all for going to the Cabal, but Freehold was a different matter. She would have suggested another location, but that would have been a dead giveaway. She was sure Jacob knew there was something wrong - he had noticed through her questioning of his plan - but he couldn't know. It was too embarassing. Ghali knew she didn't need to worry about Cleo and Brazen - Cleo was smart and Brazen was kind and compassionate but, being Exos, their emotional registration wasn't quite as developed as humans'. If Jacob knew he would think bad of her. He would.

"Ghali? Are you alright?" Her Ghost's voice came softly through her earpiece, his concern obvious.

"Yes, Ganzúa. I'm okay."

"It must be hard for you, being here. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"It isn't hard, I said I'm fine. The only thing that matters is the mission."

Her Ghost didn't reply. Blinking away a tear, Ghali forced herself to focus on the rolling dunes ahead.