Lars walked out of the doors of the S.P.A accompanied by Seymour. As he stepped out onto the sidewalk, his eyes were amazed at all of the activity going on around him.
"Woah! This is awesome Simone!" Lars said, looking around.
"Grrrrrr Its SEYMOUR!" Seymour groaned. "WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO DO THE GRUNT WORK! I'M A MAJOR! WHY DO I HAVE TO ESCORT YOU HOME!"
Above Lars a giant aircraft was carrying dozens of agents away to some unknown location. He watched as the huge multi bladed helicopter, flew to the top of the blue dome he was inside.
"Woah! What's that blue energy all around us?" Lars asked.
"How hard did you hit your head kid?" Seymour asked. "That's the ethereal barrier, you know the barrier that encapsulates all of HQ" Seymour said.
"It does what now?" Lars asked.
"Geez this is so below my pay grade!" Seymour cried digging his fingers into his forehead.
"Look you are on the Island of Atlantica ok… say it with me At lan ti ca" Seymour annunciated.
"Atlantica…" Lars answered
"On Atlantica there are 4 areas." Seymour said. "The S.P.A headquarters where you are now, Lower Atlantica city which is behind us, and Upper Atlantica city which is where you were looking through that window earlier." Seymour said.
"Lower Atlantica is a place where all the Shifters live, where our S.P.A agents spend most of our time fighting crime. Lower Atlantica is separated into 3 districts, but lets not go into that for now, are you following?"
"Yes Simone!" Lars said attentively
"Grrr great…." Seymour said suprised. "So in upper Atlantica where you were looking, is an all human area. where only humans, and S.P.A officers with high clearance are allowed. They are ruled by the N.H.A The New Human Alliance, a body of humans elected to govern them got it?" Seymour asked.
"Yeh! But what about the 4th place?"
"The 4th Place is called the Badlands, its a lawless area where Shifters rule themselves outside of the S.P.A in complete anarchy. It's one of the most dangerous places you can possibly go, we rarely take distress calls in that area." Seymour said.
"Worst of all the Badlands has a self proclaimed King named Darius, who is incredibly dangerous! He's killed countless S.P.A agents and has a huge bounty on his head!"
"Woah!" Lars said as he saw the blue barrier go down.
"The barrier goes down when personnel are leaving" Seymour said as the helicopter exited the area
"Where are they headed?" Lars asked.
"This area's S.P.A headquarters sits in the middle of those other 3 areas, Lower and Upper Atlantica and the badlands, so it could be going to any of those three."
"Wow that's so convenient!" Lars remarked. "You guys can just copter anywhere!"
"Yeh, and don't forget the Skyrail" Seymour said.
"Skyrail?" Lars asked.
Just when he thought he had seen everything a floating train appeared out of no where stopping in midair above headquarters.
"WHHHHHHHHHHAAATTTTTTTT!!!!!" Lars yelled not believing his eyes.
"ALLLL ABOARD!" The conductor yelled. Suddenly Lars saw a platform rise into the air carrying dozens of agents on it. It rose to the level of the train, and the agents all got on as if nothing had happened. Before Lars could take it all in, the train disappeared beyond the blue barrier.
"Yeh, that one even still amazes me to this day" Seymour admitted. "But lets get you home, now where do you live again?" Seymour asked.
"Uhhhh" Lars stuttered.
"Let me guess… you can't remember? Fine lets get your records from your holopad then…" Seymour said, taking out his.
"Im…. Impossible.." Seymour said looking down at his notepad.
"What is it?" Lars asked.
"I didn't even know we accepted cadets from that area…." He said covering his mouth. "Your from the worst district of Lower Atlantica… the most crime ridden part of lower city…" Seymour said nervously.
"What!?" Lars said.
"District four of Lower Atlantica…. also known as...Marianas Trench."
"Marianas… Trench?" Lars asked.
"Also known as the trenches, It's 1000 meters below Lower Atlantica… It's rumored that because it is buried so deep beneath the main city, that natural light does not even reach. There are some streets and corridors that are complete… darkness" Seymour said.
"Axel lives in a place like that?" Lars thought. "He's… he's just like me…"
(Lars remembered from his previous life)
"What? This kid is from Englewood? Why would we allow him to go to a prestigious school like this? His grades are not even good! Get this kid out of here!"
"Eww! I heard that boy is from Englewood! I hear they don't even have showers there!"
"Heh Loser! Your from Englewood? You don't look tough to me!"
(Back to present)
"What in the world is the S.P.A doing with a kid from that area?" Seymour thought.
"On second thought…." Seymour said scratching his head. "Maybe I should get someone else… I'm not even sure I have clearance to go down there… I'd probably have to go underco-"
"Hmph, really Seymour? Your going to let a girl do your job for you?" A voice said from behind him.
Lars spun around to find a young woman with pink hair and flashing brass knuckles, leaning against the S.P.A gates.
She was in superb shape, far more than any of the other students in the school, and yet had a laid-back attitude that hid much of her intimidating physique. From her curvy hips to her large biceps, there seemed to be no part of her body that wasn't in the highest level of physical form.
"Perfect timing...hehe" Seymour said scratching his head. "You wouldn't mind escorting this Shifter home would you?"
"Why are you asking me like I don't live there?" The girl said wrapping Lars in a headlock.
"Hey let me go!" Lars cried
"I live in District four too, Did you forget about Grant's scholarship already?" She said shaking her head. "Besides me and Ax go way back... ain't that right?" She said roughing up Lars's hair.
(Lars remembered)
"Give up on your delusions of becoming an agent, leave this school and just try to live a normal life!" the girl yelled
"It's my dreams," Axel said, trembling. "There's something deep inside of me that says if I don't come here…. I'll have no other reason left to live."
The girl shook her head, "You're going to live a life of misery for a dream!? Get real! Dreams are just dreams! If you keep this up you could get yourself killed!"
"Dying… isn't the worst thing, "Axel said. "I learned that the day I watched my mother die… I would much rather die than give up on her dream.".
(Back to present)
"Memories again... Mine or Axels?" Lars thought.
"It's been quite some time baby blue," The girl said smiling.
"B?" Lars asked in disbelief