[i]In a nondescript dorm room...[/i]

A shiver went through his body even under two layers of blanket.

[b][color=thistle]"Ugh, it's cold..."[/color][/b] He said, [b][color=thistle]"And it's only autumn too..."[/color][/b]

Oh the cruel coldness, it was truly his bane. He had poor circulation and he was tall, a double threat! His hands and feet were constantly cold! Whenever the day ended he went straight to his dorm room and turned the heater on.

[b][color=thistle]"Ugh, winter is going to be terrible."[/color][/b] He said.

He drew his knees up to his chest and tried in vain to warm his hands. He sort of had to do homework now, but he reeeaally didn't want to.

[b][color=thistle]"Wait a minute, I hate that guy! I don't have to do shit!"[/color][/b] He yelled triumphantly. [b][color=thistle]"Deep Ground it is!"[/color][/b]

He threw himself back into his bed and started the load into Deep Ground Online. He wasn't going to pretend he didn't hate someone. That went against his principles and he really didn't like hypocrites. Light faded and he was in.
[hr]
[center][h2]Welcome, [color=yellow]Rocket Lancer[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]
Light pierced his eyelids and he opened them to see a city that looked like it was made of black. Towers of twisted steel reached the skies, many buildings looked to be in a state of disrepair. Even from where he was he could see it would be difficult to tell where you were going from above. None of it was the same but it was all samey, the outskirts had become a refuge for outlaws but none of them tried to go deeper. Until now, that is.

The announcement was a surprise, obviously it was. Regardless, many outlaws seeking power in a group had wanted to join the legendary Ebony Strykers, unfortunately for some of them they had been on his Sweeper List.

[b][color=yellow]"Well, let's see if we've got anything new today."[/color][/b] He pulled up his messaging interface. No new messages.

He knew the sweepers were officially disbanded but by way of courier he'd been invited. A flying ability was rare in Deep Ground and it gave a unique advantage when it came to hunting Outlaws.

[b][color=yellow]"If I've got nothing else to do, maybe I'll go ahead and see what the the Black King's up to."[/color][/b] He said.

Truthfully, it wasn't just that he had nothing to do, but he had a feeling. The same feeling he had when he'd first seen Deep Ground, the same feeling as when he'd knew how much he could do. That same feeling was coming now, as he revved his lance. He shivered again but this time not from cold, but anticipation.

He took off into the sky, his destination was the Ebony Strykers.