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Location: Nulline Enforcer Compound, Mess Hall Seven.

Time: 18:30pm

Year: 2093, February 13th.

Almost a year had passed, and I had recently turned eighteen. Over the time that I had spent serving the Enforcers as a Hellfire, I had experienced my share of dirty businesses. I was put up against gangs, drug dealers, and all the rest of the scum that inhabited the Metropolis. Now it was all being washed away, and the Enforcers were starting to take the city back

It was one of my days off, as well as every other Hellfire's day off; so we decided to relax in the mess hall and wind down with a few drinks. So far, I had drunk over three glasses of beer, and half way through my fourth. I was circled around the table with Millard, Roland and Agustus, listening to the rain pattering against the windows.

"What do you think will happen once we take back the city?" Millard asked, looking down into his glass.

"We'll always be needed." I replied; "Whether as a police force, or just patrols through the city."

We all nodded and stayed silent for a while. We were clearly all a little drunk, and slowly getting tired. We were only brought about by a loud slam of doors opening. We all jumped up and turned to the front door, watching a small group of people walk in carrying a radio. Everyone went silent, and looked over at the group.

"Listen up!" One of them shouted out. "There's been an emergency broadcast over every city; Nulline, Tyr, everywhere!"

We all listened in as the radio began to start up. The radio was turned up to the highest volume so everyone could hear it clearly.

"Earlier today." The radio began; "We've been given reports that the city of Arpeggio has collapsed. It is said that the city had been recently constructing a space elevator in hopes of forming a space colony. This dream was short-lived, however, when the elevator had been ruptured at the base, causing it to fall down on the city, which in turn brought down the whole city. We'll have more news on this disaster as we keep in touch."

I was tensing and loosening up at that news. The whole city had been destroyed. My home, my life, and Joseph were gone. I wasn't crying, but instead felt a dull pain flow through my body. I got up slowly and walked out of the mess hall, pushing past the crowds and confused chatter. I didn't know what else to do but go to my room and think.

Unfortunately, I met up with Vern on the way back to my room. He came up to me and stopped right in front of me.

"Kobalt, I've heard the news." Vern said with concern. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Come back into my room." I whispered. "I need to talk to you about something."

We both walked on, staying silent until we had reached the front door. I eased it open and stepped into my room. I saw my Hellfire armor folded up on my table. The metal was dented and scratched, showing its age. I closed the door behind us and sat down on my bed, rubbing my face with my hands.

"Listen." I said to Vern. "I'm fine... but I think I know what caused the collapse of Arpeggio."

Vern sat next to me, looking me straight in the face. I was about to tell him all about what had experienced since I had first arrived in Nulline. This was probably the only way that he would be able to believe what I believed.

"Ever since I became an Arch-Angel, I've been having dreams." I began; "I saw a girl. She looked like a Human. I don't expect you to believe me, but I just know that this girl is linked to what happened to Arpeggio."

"What?!" Vern asked, confused at what I had just said. "Who - what are you talking about? You must be drunk."

"I'm not drunk." I retorted. "This girl - she said she was called Sarra, or Arpeggio. I just know that if I can go back there, I can find out what happened-."

"You must be insane." Vern cut me off. "Listen, there's no way you can get to Arpeggio; all transports have been shut down. We're cut off from all other places; but now it's just Nulline and Tyr left."

"Then give me a jet." I pleaded. "Please, just let me do this. After that, you can resign me, kill me, and do whatever you want. I need to find out what happened to Arpeggio."

"You mean the girl, don't you?" The Wolf accused, sighing and leaning back. "Listen; I can give you a lift, but I don't know what you'll find down there. I may be able to gather up a small team of soldiers, but it looks like it would be a suicide mission."

With that, Vern got up and left me in my room with my thoughts. I was thinking back to how I had first become an Arch-Angel. It had all started in Arpeggio.

And for all I knew, it was going to end in Arpeggio.

Location: Nulline Enforcer Compound Docks.

Time: 10:30am.

Year: 2093, February 14th.

It had been a sleepless night, but I wasn't tired at all. I was sitting in a jet with three other soldiers; Millard, Agustus and Roland. Only Hellfires were crazy enough to take this job, and it was comforting to be around people who I knew could get the job done. We were all equipped with large rifles, combat knives, and a bundle of grenades. This was a dangerous job, so we needed all the force we could get our hands on.

I was equipped with only my rifle, but had over ten bundles of steel spikes strapped onto my Hellfire armor, which had turned a faded blue color over the past year. We were all sitting down, trading a few glances and resting our arms on our helmets. We all sat up straight when we say Captain Vern step in, dressed in black Hellfire armor. Even the metal was painted black.

"Let's go." Vern said bluntly. "We don't have any time to waste."

We all heard the jet start to rumble and hum. I felt the jet start to move and take off. I was gripping my rifle tightly. I could never get used to flying.

"Listen up, Hellfires." Vern began; "This mission is top-secret, off the books. Whatever happens here is completely confidential, understood?"

"Sir." Millard interrupted. "What are we going to Arpeggio for? What could possibly be left there?"

"Salvage, perhaps." Roland suggested. "Maybe some people have survived, and we need to confirm it. No use in sending a dozen planes to pick up nothing."

"You're going to be staying in the jet." Vern continued, silencing Millard and Roland. "Kobalt will be conducting a thorough search on the surface. You'll just be here as backup."

"You're kidding, right?" Millard blurted out. "No offence, Kobalt, but the surface is dangerous, even for you. We'd be better off going in as a team."

"I'm not searching the actual surface." I muttered to him. "I'm searching much lower; beneath the city and the surface. Something's down there, and I need to find out what. I'll be counting on you for support."

Everyone stayed silent after that. I had made it perfectly clear for them; now I just needed to follow the mission - my mission, through.

Location: Arpeggio Ruins.

Time: 20:10pm

Year: 2093, February 14th.

"We're here." The pilot shouted back. "Where do you want dropping off?"

I got up and looked out of the small window to the side of the jet. I saw the ruins of Arpeggio. It just looked like a large disc that had been cracked and broken up. The worst part of it was that it was on fire. The whole ruin had bright red strips of fire flowing through it. I looked around for a place that I could be dropped off. I couldn't see any area that linked directly to the underground.

"Keep circling around the city." I commanded. "Look around for any kind of sewage lines or tunnels."

There was no reply, but instead the jet started to rotate around the city. I kept a keen eye out for anything suspicious or tunnel-like. I spotted a bright grey section of metal near the edge of a cliff. I was surprised that Arpeggio was so close to the edge, but also propped up next to the base of a cliff at the same time. As if it was built on the edge of a crater.

"I see a something just below the ruins, on the cliff edge." I called over to the pilot, who was beginning to turn the jet over to the point of interest.

"It looks like some kind of garbage chute." Vern said. "I'm not sure that it links to the underground."

"The metal is still bright." I replied. "Meaning it's been recently uncovered; probably by the cities collapse. Drop me off there, and I'll see where it takes me."

Vern obeyed, and opened up the back of the jet, revealing a small pod. I didn't have to be a genius to know that I'd be dropped off in that. I holstered my gun so that It would be able to fit in the pod. I stayed silent whilst climbing in and closing the pod behind me; just leaving a small window for me to look out of.

"Remember, wait one hour." I called to Vern. "And try to drop me off so I land inside the tunnel."

"Got it." Vern called back. "I'll see what I can do."

With that, Vern walked back into the cockpit, leaving me alone, waiting for the drop onto the surface. This time was much more unnerving. I didn't know if I would land in the right place; it was unlikely that I would be able to land in the tunnel. I was also nervous about how I was going to land. I had only dropped two times before, and both times were on flat ground; not the edge of a cliff.

I finally heard a loud click, and felt the pod drop silently with me. I took a few deep breaths, and tried to focus myself; but before I could completely calm down, I had felt a crash, making a small dent in the top of the pod. I felt the pod shake and turn repeatedly. The pod was compact, so I was held in place as the pod began to make a final crash onto the ground.

I forced open the door, and fell out onto the cold, metal floor. I had successfully landed in the tunnel, and with only a few setbacks; one of which being myself and my lack of balance. I looked around the tunnel, and stared onwards. It was too dark to see past my hands, so it was obvious that I had landed very deep in the tunnel. I focused on my vision again and brightened up my surroundings.

The walls were caked in mud, showing only a few patches of bright grey metal. I looked around for any kind of door or passage, but saw nothing. I would have to keep walking on if I wanted to find any way further into the underground.

I wondered what secrets I would find as I went further into the labyrinth.