The Rift

All seven members of the Stealth Infiltration Squad edged their way along the crevices lining the wet rock. This cliff was a lot like the one Calvin had been looking over back at the camp, but more trecherous. Calvin knew this land very well, also -- he had been studying the long miles between here and the camp for over a week.

"Wont'cha look at the lights down below?" said Richie. "I haven't seen a place lit up like this since way before The War, ended. Lemme tell ya, I --"

"Stay focused, Richie." said Calvin. They weren't just scouting out the territory anymore; this time they were finally going to act and Richie needed to be prepared for anything.

"John, can you get visuals on any of the soldiers from here?"

"Maybe not, with all this rain," said John.

He pushed back his hood, pulled a golden device resembling a telecope from a pocket unseen benath his gray cloak and peered through it to the city below, drops of rain slidding down his shiny brown head.

It really was something. Neon advertizements hung like swarms of lightning bugs and fireflies. A water fountain as tall as a house could be seen drenching the grass on one of the outer blocks. Even taller, were two of the brass statues surrounding the city: one was of a muscular man bending over on one knee, while the other was a tall woman wearing a pointed witch's hat. The office buildings towered above all.

"I can see a couple dirt-warriors on the outskirts," said John. "Which is consistent with their usual pattern; they don't like to put their own troops out in the open, do they?"

"I guess not," said Calvin. He glanced down at his wrist. Below the digital watch was a rectangular screen -- a radar. It was still clear.

"We're good for a quarter-mile radius." he said. "Let's move."

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