Steel Ethereal

Ch. 30 Rook's Forest

            

Rob

"Everyone's here, it seems," Riley says to the group that has gathered. "I apologize for the short notice, but we have trouble."

Jenna and I are the last to arrive. She takes her place next to Riley. Her posture changes to the stern leader. But now I know she takes this because her position demands it.

"Many of the perimeter alarms are triggered. Officers patrolling that area of Promenade have gone missing and any attempts at surveillance has failed. Any picture taken of what is causing the disappearances is muddled in radiation."

I see Sam's face grow dark at the mention of the guards going missing. Luciana, next to her, rubs her shoulder in reassurance.

Pip walks from the small group, next to Riley.

"If you will, Pip, dear," Riley says, nodding to the small woman.

Riley steps to the side and stamps his foot on the ground, causing his noir armor to rise from the ground. He begins assembling it and it attaches to his body. Jenna does the same and I see her chest plate has been repaired.

"Very well," Pip begins, "As mentioned before, radiation has blocked all forms of ground and aerial imagery. We have had to rely on eye witness accounts." She seemed to groan a bit at the mention of something that isn't hard proof, "Reports are distanced as we do not want to risk lives. Promenade officers as well as three Apex members report a giant mass that seems to be growing. It is too dark to make out any clear sight and lights shone on the mass seem to be distorted. The amount of radiation is deadly. Radiation pills will be given to each of you to help dispel its effects. Apex's job will be to go in and investigate. Whatever is controlling this is hostile or malicious in nature."

We all nod in agreement.

"Let's get outfitted!" Riley commands.

The others step forward to dress into their noir armors. Everyone lined up and stamped along the floor. Their armors rose and they all began the process of being coated in nighttime dark.

Luciana and Sam are already coated in the black outfitting. They both stand taller than I.

"Rob, you'll be borrowing an armor." Riley says to me.

A chunk of concrete rises from in front of me.

"We were going to present you and Charlie's armor when the time came, but because of the present circumstances, I'm sure Promenade would be proud if you wore the stones it made for you."

Jenna steps forward, "We would have gifted it to you, had a ceremony and all, but that'll have to wait.

Riley looks to me and I know he's searching, making sure I don't betray the armor and what it honorably stands for.

I nod, feeling that no words could be spoken to assure Riley I meant business. I'd have to show him I could do this.

Riley turns to the armor, "Let it call to you. It's been made just for you."

I clear my mind and focus on the noir armor. There are the same five plates that seem to be made for my body. I stretch my arm forward and one of the plates soars to my arm. It attaches painlessly and begins extending to my arm. The rest fly to my body and coat me. It isn't a painful process, but by the end, I feel a bit snug.

"Can't be helped. I'm not too worried about it." I say as I stand amazed by the armor. It felt as if I were wearing nothing else other than the clothes I'd was wearing. I felt secure.

Jenna looks and observes my armor. She tugs a bit here and there to make sure every bit of the armor is in place. "I bet Charlie would think you're handsome."