[Sarah]

thirty seconds to launch. Zida for once in a long time felt ready. Whoever the scientist was had the sense to outfit Zida realistically. The city, while it was the oddest, was well set up. It was big but not overwhelming and would work against three of the four enemy types. Unfortunately the fourth could work well in any environment.

[Sarah]

The air filled with static and Zida grinned. Vex. The only enemy that would be able to do damage in such a place. The only enemy who could spawn right on top of her. She didn't regret sending her ghost away, but she worried she might have to use her sniper in close quarters. Until Zida felt them on top of her she would continue to scan the city.

[Sarah]

The white city was illuminated by the moon. Even though the sky was dark Zida could see the details of the buildings through her scope. Every few blocks the signature lights of Vex shimmered as mountains of enemies poured into the simulation. She wondered where her partner might be as she set her sights on some of the more dangerous machines. Being noticed was not favorable, and killing the big beasts ended up making the whole situation worse.

[Sarah]

A Gate Lord at the back towered over the white buildings. It was directing the Vex around it as Zida lined up her scope with its peak point. She had decided to do something stupid. One... Breathe in. Two... Breathe out. Three... Zida shot and the monster staggered. She shot again and a third time. The giant swiveled, its circuits working to figure out where the course of the bullets were.

[Sarah]

Maybe she should have waited for her ghost to return. Zida didn't think the Gate Lord knew her exact location but it had sure figured out the direction of her bullets. The monster began directing Hobgoblin scouts towards her general direction. They had quite a but if searching to do and Zida was not going to make it easier for them. Instead she sat back and continued to scan the city. She wondered if her partner had heard her shots.

[Sarah]

The bigger beasts swarmed the center of the city. Very slowly they began to crawl out. A circle of death looking to cleanse the city. Their Hobgoblins reporting an all clear followed by a lurch of troops. Their impenetrable wall would drive her back. She hoped the simulation was big enough for her to eventually find an opening to slip through.

[Sarah]

Zida had been in enough simulations to know killing enemies only spawned more, or they spawned bigger enemies, or stronger enemies. There was some artifact around that she had to secure in order for the simulation to be considered a success. She had shot the Giant more out of curiosity than anything. The giant had sent out more troops her way, but everything else seemed to run on a normal script. more often than not the artifact was located where the enemies came from.

[Sarah]

It wouldn't hurt her to check out the center of the city. She would have to wait until the Vex's circle of death had dispersed. As Zida scanned the city she wondered when her ghost would return. Would it return with her partner? So far sh hadn't seen any sign of it or another being that wasn't Vex.