Spectrum Silhouette Part 1: .38 Special

Following her briefing, Neya was dispatched by herself to Nolfram Island aboard the Human-operated naval cruiser, the K. Salzburg. It struck her as odd that the Humans would be escorting her to the island, but she shrugged it off as possibly being a courtesy to the Lights by their Human counterparts. The cruiser came within 300 yards from the cliffs on the edge of the island; the sky was deep in shades of gray, tiny snowflakes were littering the port side of the cruiser where Neya stood in her jumpsuit and swim gear. At the least, she was apprehensive about swimming in freezing cold water, but she had been assured by her Light contacts that this new suit would insulate her well enough to keep her submerged for a long time. The cruiser came to a halt; then a very tall red-haired, red-eyed, and very well-endowed woman in a black uniform approached her on deck. Neya recognized the brass pins on her shoulders, they were the pins of a Royal Officer in the Light military.

"Lieutenant Neya Shiqaw, heir to the Shiqaw throne, it's a pleasure to meet you." Said the woman in uniform, extending her hand to Neya's for a shake.

The two locked right hands and shook, Neya's grip firm, the other woman's gentle.

"Don't worry about the cold, this suit is our best yet. We'll be sending you off with an attachment pack, it'll have more of your gear in it. Once you are on the surface you can lose the pack and continue on." Said the woman.

"Excuse me, Commander, but where are the others?" Inquired Neya.

"They're already on the island waiting for you. Jude has infiltrated the ranks, and mapped out the entire base for us. Nana got herself captured so that Jude and Jodak could get by the guards, and Jodak is scouting the place from the outside. You'll meet up with them sooner or later." Explained the woman in black.

"And you?" Asked Neya.

"Royal Commander Peli Vallus, Jude is my son." Replied the woman in black.

"I know your daughter as well, Carrol, she has your youthful appearance." Replied Neya. "Quite an involved family you have, Commander Vallus."

"Listen, Shiqaw. The Phantoms know you are coming. They are aware of Jude and Jodak's penetration into their facility, but they fear your arrival more." Explained Peli. "While Jude may be a Spectrum child, they know that a Shiqaw warrior doesn't wear out, doesn't quit. Be yourself." Said Peli. "Their leader claims to be the late Commander Ysyper, and her followers believe it. She has the Horsemen on her side, you'll need to be on top of your game, this mission is dire critical."

"Don't worry, Commander Vallus, this isn't my first time." Neya responded giving Peli a smirk, and putting on a diving mask with an oxygen can on the front. "By the way, Commander..." Neya spoke through the mask while a Human sailor put the gear pack over her back. "It's an honor meeting a Resurrected Light such as yourself, my respect for you is sky high."

Having said what she did, Neya leaped off of the port side of the cruiser in full gear, and swam to the edge of Nolfram Island. Commander Vallus watched Neya disappear into the dark blue, and freezing cold ocean water. Neya was a fast swimmer and came to the cliffs within a few minutes. Through the lenses of her diving mask, and through a rich blue filter from the water, Neya made out an opening along the cliffs that appeared to have light filtering out from within. She resolved to swim to it and see if she can enter the island through it. Upon climbing onto the rocks outside the entrance, she could see the glow of electric lights from inside the murky cavern. The wind on the island was atrocious, snowflakes pelted her jumpsuit making the sounds of clinking ice pellets. A stream of water led into the cavern, she quietly submerged into the water again when she saw a male guard walking along the path toward the exit of the cavern where she was. Having not seen Neya, she swam passed him up the stream deeper into the cavern. The lights became more numerous, and the stream came to an abrupt end just beyond a corner. At the end there was a cement platform and a dimly lit room that had a set of stairs leading up, presumably toward the surface of the island. Patiently, she waited under water and watched a group of armed guards travel up the steps and leave on of them behind to watch the dock. When the guard turned to face away from the direction which Neya was at, she emerged her head from the water to get a better look. It was the same guard she swam passed earlier. Seconds later he turned back around to watch the entrance, then Neya submerged once again.

Neya slowly paddled her feet to approach the edge of the cement platform of the cavern furthest away from the guard. The young man in uniform started to lose focus and began to inspect the canvas-topped crates that lined the wall. While his back was turned away from the water, Neya quietly emerged from the water again, this time she climbed up to the platform and hurriedly crouched down behind one of the crates along the wall adjacent to the guard, out of sight. The guard heard the sound of Neya's boots on the cement, he quickly turned around and immediately noticed the water puddles on the ground by where Neya was hiding. Slowly he approached the crate where the puddles lay behind, his pistol in hand, ready to shoot. Neya waited until his boots came within eyesight from behind, and when he saw her, she got back up on her feet, grabbed his pistol with both hands, twisted it out of his hand in the direction away from the palm of his hand, disarming him.

"You're supposed to hold it with both hands." She told him before punching him in the face, knocking him out.

Neya looked at the pistol, disappointed.

".38 special, like this is going to stop a Xendran." She grumbled.

A second later, another guard rushed down the steps after hearing the commotion, now Neya was in trouble, for he called out for backup.

"It's her! I need backup!" He called up the steps before Neya pulled the trigger of the .38, shooting him in the torso, killing him.

Following this, two more armed guards rushed down the steps, pistols in hand. Neya took one of them out from where she stood, he tumbled down the steps while the other guard behind him took aim at her. He was too slow however, and Neya got him right in the chest, also sending him tumbling down the steps. She then proceeded to the stairway and watched another guard hurry down the steps. She remained out of his sight until he entered the cavern. Neya grabbed his arm, then she slammed her closed fist into the back of his elbow, breaking his arm. As he fell to the ground, she shot him twice in the back. Now she was free to move up to the surface.

"Amateurs." She said to herself while she hurried up the steps.

The landing at the top of the steps brought her to a small elevator that was ready to be taken up. Neya stepped onto the elevator, and touched the command button to go to the top. With a loud roar, the elevator began to move slowly. Shedding her diving mask, Neya was now free to breathe the air and take a relaxer for a few more seconds. It was going to be a long day for her.