Morning Watch
The Golden City at dawn is a masterpiece of symmetry and light. As I hit my fifth mile, the sun began to reflect off the glass spires, turning the entire park into a shimmering landscape of amber and gold. My breathing was rhythmic, my heart rate steady exactly in sync with the 138 BPM of "The Great Big Open (Club Mix)" my morning run track always made it go.
I was wearing my lightweight metallic gold compression running tights, the "Big Dumb Jock" muscle hoodie and high-performance gold-and-black trainers, the soles gripping the white marble path as I carved through the morning mist. My mind was focused on one thing: the upcoming Football game against the Crimson Frost Giants. I could already feel a slight burn in my legs from this morning run.
But then, the rhythm broke.
Near the edge of the ornamental koi pond, where the park's gold-leafed trees cast long shadows, I saw it. A jagged, pulsing vein of Red Goo was snaking its way across the pristine white marble path. It looked like a raw, open wound against the perfection of the City. It wasn't just sitting there; it was reaching, vibrating with a low-frequency hum that set my teeth on edge.
I skidded to a halt, the rubber of my trainers chirping against the stone. If a civilian or a low-level Drone stumbled into that on their morning walk, the infection would be instantaneous.
I pulled my cell phone from my hoodie pocket, the screen instantly recognizing my face. I bypassed the standard apps and hit the encrypted Golden Army alert icon.
"Command, this is Wells #58," I said, my voice sharp and authoritative as I held the phone up to capture a scan of the breach. "I’ve found a red-tier contaminant breach in the Central Park sector, Path 12. It’s active and searching for a host. Send PDU-767 and PDU-090 to my coordinates for immediate containment. I'm holding the line."
Within moments, the familiar whir of the transmat beam signaled their arrival. PDU-767 and PDU-090 they stepping out of the beam, their gold-and-black clashing with the serene morning light. They didn't need a briefing; they saw the red stain and moved.
“Securing the perimeter, Master 58,” 767 said, snapping an energy pylon into the marble.
I stood back, phone still in hand as the confirmation of the lockdown pinged on my screen. I watched as they boxed the crimson filth behind a shimmering amber resonance field. The Goo lashed out against the barrier, a desperate, oily flick of red before the field stabilized and neutralized its signal.
"Area secure," 090 reported, standing at attention.
I nodded, sliding my phone back into my pocket. The Red Coach were trying to get inside our heads before they even stepped onto the field. I took a deep breath, reset my music, and started my run again.
They can send all the Goo they want. The Golden City, doesn't break.
Constant vigilance is the price of perfection. We keep the city clean so the Hive stays strong. Ready to join the watch? Contact our recruiters: @franco-gold94, @polo-drone-166 or @polo-drone-125.
The Red storyline is a collaboration with SERVE. The two groups have a connected past, but are no longer connected. Please do not ask Golden Army recruiters how to join SERVE or SERVE recruiters how to join the Golden Army.
Featuring: @polo-drone-767 and @pdu-090













