CLANDESTINE

CHAPTER 1

It was two past midnight. Intricate markings on the sand-clock had helped me predict near precise time. Measuring time accurately was a skill of the past. Our reliance on ancient instruments to do so was more than ever.
The survivors generally used sand-glasses. Digital instruments, fancy for us 'left-overs' were only in the hands of the government as they were able to make a few thousand batteries from the nuclear fuel, which was drained out of the remaining reservoirs. They could have helped us, only if they could help themselves first.
Luna sat right next to me in this cold, dingy room, licking my wounded legs. She was a four year old female retriever, the strongest i've ever seen.
I had found her when she was a pup, struggling to survive. Hit by a car, her prosthetic limb has let her live a life of a normal dog. Her will to survive had brought us here, being able to withstand the harshest of times mankind has ever experienced.

Food was scarce and one meal a day was luxury. Being a vegetarian had its toll on me. Luna managed to eat whatever she found to be smaller than her. Flyberries were a good source of nutrition. Theta-Hybridisation of everyday berries had allowed us to grow them anywhere. It was our staple diet, apart from the groundnuts I rarely came across. Luna loved them!

I had gotten two hours of sleep. Sleep wasn't the best of things I could enjoy. As a Marine, sleep was the one thing i was made not to be fond of. I belonged to the second unit of the Marine Corps Special Operations Forces. Out of the six units commissioned with ten marines each, just two remained. Each, now had two soldiers who were deployed at the four extremes. I was down in the south, looking for this researcher, who the government described by the name "Delta-6". This was a highly classified mission, for even we didn't know much. All we knew was that it was a "She" we were scouting for! 

An hour had passed. There were no signs of rain now. I had not been able to get out due to heavy downpour since the last two days. Stored food had served its purpose.
I got up. Put my gear on. Night-vision HUDs were my only source of vision in the pitch black that i was surrounded by. Luna ruffled her fur, which was grown long enough to touch the floor. We head out, with luna by my side. We had to get to that woman. Where on earth is she?

I got out. Luna started sniffing the area. All i had left to scan was this piece of land, around two kilometres squared.
I was airdropped to Brookwood. One of Welusia's important towns. I had been here since a week, looking for her.
Why does the government need Special Forces for such a mission? I mean, not one bullet from my M1016 was shot. I am a marine, not a farmer. I expect some gunpowder to be burnt now and then.

It was noon now. The sun was at its peek. No signs of anybody around. Luna was impatient as always, reacting to the slightest of movements. My squad was reluctant of me bringing her here. With her alongside, they were sure I would compromise my position. I'll be honest, I wasn't in an enemy territory to be worried about compromising my position. There were barely a handful around, probably dead by now . I coudn't be sure why I was alive. I wanted to spend all the time left with my girl. Either of us can die first.