This is the story that Jaquio: Angel of Death is based on. Keep in mind that the game is not a direct representation of the story, but there are overlapping scenes, dialogue, locations and characters. This is only a sample; all chapters have been chopped and truncated. The entire story will not be released, however, I'll continue to share snippets of the book as I release updates of the game.
Jaquio: Angel of Death
Author: DRXeno
(Page 2)
-==Chapter 1 (Cont)==-
Dawn found a thoroughly refreshed and active figure riding along the edge of a cold, damp wall. A cool breeze blew his dark hair over his eyes. His heart stopped momentarily as he took his first step onto the gravel.
Down on one knee he removed his lingering hair from his face, his lucid blue eyes scanned the area. Two large searchlights were crisscrossing over the compound from the watchtowers at the far corners. The lights on the perimeter and the lights inside the base were on full force. It was as if Vesta Inc. were waiting for his arrival. He reached slowly into his pocket, seizing tightly between his fingers a WT900--A communicating device, he had helped Briggs develop. He raised it to his mouth.
"Briggs, I've reached Vesta Inc."
"Good work Jaquio. Now remember your objective."
"Yes, yes I know," Jaquio whispered impatiently. "Retrieve the weapon, and get the hell out of here."
"You sound confident."
Jaquio smirked.
"I've transferred a map of Vesta Inc. to your WT900. This blinking light is where the weapon is believed to be." There was a short pause. "Good luck"
Suddenly Jaquio's head snapped to the side. He could hear the sound of boots crunching on the earth. Quickly he made for the shadows, creeping along the outskirts of the base. No one had seen him.
Swiftly he ducked behind a watchtower. He could see an army of men marching uniformly through their routes. Their shoulder were hunched and their coats buttoned up, and they felt cold, not so much because of the freezing weather as because they knew they'd have to be out in it all day.
His attention drifted towards the entrance of Vesta Inc; a thirty-story building built entirely under the earth. Its aluminum dome is the only thing that protrudes beyond the soil. This was a place that had long been accounted to be imaginary, yet he stood less than 25 yards away from it.
The guards were looking the other way now and Jaquio sprung into action. He inched his way around the tower and towards the entrance. Just a few more feet to go.
"Hey!"
A guard was on top of him in a second. He grabbed Jaquio by the shoulders, pinning him against the wall. Angrily, Jaquio spun away from him, then swung his fist. He belted him across the mouth, knocking him to the ground.
"Briggs, hurry! I need the password."
"Have you put your identification card in the slot?"
His answer came impatiently. "Yes!"
"Ok. It's 54.621.2156."
"Alright, I'm in."
Jaquio peered into the room, taking slow, cautious steps towards the elevator at the other end. Then he thought to himself, No. It wouldn't be safe to take the elevator. There has to be another way in. He stepped alertly away, dropping to his knees and palms of his hands, he crawled towards a vent. A sound of strain exited his mouth as he snatched the cage covering off the wall.
He crawled in head first, disappearing into the black abyss. Inch by inch he groped through the darkness. After a settled ten minutes, panic struck him. There came a sudden feeling that the walls were enclosing him. He took several deep breaths. I must try to stay calm. He continued on.
After several minutes, long, rectangular light shined on the tips of his fingers. He edged forward, peering through a metal screen. He could see them now. Five guards gathered in a circle. Their conversation, barely above a whisper.
"There's an intruder somewhere in the building. If we find him, we're ordered to kill him immediately."
Jaquio watched the guards resume their circulated positions around the small equipment room. Slowly and quietly he climbed out of the shaft. He leaned against the wall, so as not to be noticed. In his hand, he caressed a blade. He began to prospect his surroundings. I wonder where those elevators across the room will lead me?
Extracting his eyes away from the elevators, a glimpse of an approaching guard was caught. He quickly ducked behind a wooden crate. He held his breath as he watched the guard advance towards his hidden position. The guard still hadn't noticed him. Jaquio frowned at the jubilant melody he whistled.
The guard turned around. Jaquio listened to the footsteps as they became softer, and softer. Left, right, left, right. Jaquio predicted the guard to be at least fifteen feet away from him now. He got up and causally advanced towards the man, twirling the knife in his hand.
Turning serenely around, the guard spots Jaquio. Not grasping the full terror of the moment, he only saw a tall, strapping man looming in the shadows. When it finally registered that the intruder was wielding a vicious ragged edged blade in his hand, it was too late.
Pouncing like a large, voracious cat, Jaquio was on the guard, his strong hand around the guard's throat, cutting the air off. Almost as an afterthought, he lashed out with a sideways blow, rendering another guard unconscious just as he had been about to yell, "Hey!" or perhaps, "What the hell are you doing!?"
Jaquio sensed that the guard was already about to pass out from lack of oxygen. Chortling, he let his grip loosen before plunging the knife into the guards lungs. He watched the insides begin to spill out onto the concrete floor. He wrenched the knife from the guard's lifeless chest and wiped the blade on his shirt.
Fear burrowed deeper and deeper into Jaquio's heart as he journeyed further and further inside Vesta Inc. He whipped quickly around corners, but was cautious. He had somehow managed to make a sixth of the way through Vesta Inc., virtually unnoticed.
Now Jaquio followed the impotent rays of light shining dimly from above. His breath came faster, and he could hear his heart beat. He glanced around paranoid with every step towards the end of the hall. He stirred away from the shadows, expecting at any moment for a soldier to jump from the dark. He pushed away the thought, and crept quietly into a room to the right of him. He squinted at the bright lights while softly closing the door behind him.
"Huh?" Jaquio's voice came in a loud whisper.
Curiously he approached several capsules. He touched the exterior, tented glass covering.
It was warm. He could hear a tranquil rhythm of breathing from inside. In front of him was a computerized stand. Hesitantly, he reached his hand out and pushed a small green button. With attentive eyes he watched the tented glass, as it became transparent as air to reveal a small alien creature.
His hand rubbed gently across the glass. Oh God! These things are alive.
Jaquio didn't know how long he had stood there listening to Briggs's voice before he replied. "Briggs! I'm here."
"I thought something happened to you," he said with a sigh of relief.
"No, I'm just onto something."
"What?"
"I'm not sure, but it seems that Vesta Inc. is doing something with genetics."
"Genetics?" There was a short pause. "We haven't heard anything about that."
"Look into it for me."
"Alright. But you keep moving, you're not too far away from the weapon."
The connection was cut.
Jaquio stepped back as he watched the creature lift his hand. His eyes followed the wrinkled finger.
"Freeze!"
Jaquio stood paralyzed.
"Turn around!"
Slowly Jaquio turned around, his arms resting at his side. Looking at the reflection allotting from the capsule, he examined the stranger. He could see a tall, slender woman. Her emerald eyes hatefully scanned over Jaquio's slender body. Her bright pink hair spiked towards the sky, piercing the air around her. Then suddenly she let her guard down. This was his chance, but it was purposely passed. He quickly realized that she was not wearing a Vesta Inc. uniform.
She looked at Jaquio, as if in an attempt to read his mind. Her eyes narrowed. "Jaquio?"
There was a moment of silence. Following was more silence.
She sneered. "I was sent here by the Colonel to assist you." She held out her hand. "Call me Jesse."
Jaquio looked suspiciously at her. Impossible! This was a one man mission.
She started towards the door. "We don't have much time."
She grabbed Jaquio's shoulder. "Colonel's choice was wise, you need help, admit it!"
He lowered his head. It's not the Colonel I don't trust.
She tugged Jaquio's shoulder, urging him towards the door. "We really should be leaving, we only have four hours left!"
"What?"
Her small finger pointed towards the corner of the room. Jaquio's eyes glazed over. "You set a bomb!?"
She ignored his complaint. In that instant the door jerked open to reveal several guards. Jaquio grabbed Jesse by her shirt and threw her towards the back of the room.
The guards faces like blanched meat, streamed sweat shortly after a few minutes. Knocking off their helmets, Jaquio beat their heads, bringing them down onto themselves.
"C'mon!" Jaquio cried, already making his escape from the room.