REZIUM - RISE OF MARS
​Chapter 1: Escape from Earth
​
The factory floor was a labyrinth of rusted walkways and towering machines that hissed and groaned like caged beasts. Sparks flew from overhead welders, scattering against the gloom, while the acrid scent of burning metal clung to the stale air.
​
Jalen-G82, known simply as Jalen to his colleagues, stood at his station, his hands moving with mechanical precision as he assembled another plasma conduit. Each day blended into the next, a monotonous grind of labor.
​
The factory’s oppressive hum reverberated through his bones, a reminder of Saryon’s grip on the Detroit Enclave. Here, lives were reduced to quotas and productivity charts. Along the rows, Enforcers prowled the floor, their glowing visors and mechanical precision erasing any trace of humanity, and cementing iron rule.
​
“Hey, Jalen,” a voice whispered from the adjacent workstation. It was Marik, the closest thing to a friend in this hellhole. “You hear about the Roqore transporters? Another small fleet heading to Mars.”
​
Jalen didn’t look up. “Yeah, I heard. Sounds like a one-way ticket to a slow death in the mines.”
“Not what I’m hearing.” Marik leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Roqore’s got opportunities, man. They’re building real bases, not just digging holes. Sector commanders can make Kredits, real KOR Kredits.”
Jalen frowned, tightening a plasma seal with a hiss. “It’s a gamble. And they don’t hand out base commands to just anyone.”
​
Marik chuckled. “Maybe not. But you’ve got the skills, and you know it.”
​
Before Jalen could respond, the factory lights dimmed, and an ear-splitting siren blared. An Enforcer, nearly three meters tall, stepped onto the central walkway. Its voice, distorted and mechanical, echoed across the factory.
​
“Attention, workers. Productivity in G-Block is below target. Non-compliance will not be tolerated.”
The workers froze. No one dared move as the Enforcer’s glowing visor scanned the room. Jalen kept his head down, but his jaw clenched. He’d seen what happened to those who fell behind.
​
The Enforcer’s gaze lingered on the two of them before moving on. Only when the lights returned to normal and the enforcer stomped away did the tension ease. Marik exhaled sharply. “We’ve got to leave, man. Saryon doesn’t own Mars. Not yet, anyway.”
​
–
​
The place was known as The Hollow Vein, a sprawling night market that pulsed with neon and the murmur of voices. Located in the heart of the Enclave, it was where human workers congregated after work to forget their daily grind. Hawkers yelled out deals, while augmented street performers with chrome limbs flipped and danced to the synthetic thrum of bass-heavy music. Holographic billboards shimmered above, displaying glitching ads for cheap cybernetic upgrades and dream simulations.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Jalen slipped through the place, his eyes scanning for Marik among the crowd of weathered faces and shifting shadows. Eventually he spotted Marik near an ancient metal staircase, gesturing subtly.
Before Jalen could approach, the imposing figure of an Enforcer blocked his path, its visor casting a cold, electric glow. “What’s your business here?” Its voice was deep and devoid of emotion. Jalen’s heart pounded, but he forced his expression to remain neutral. “Just finished my shift, needed a recharge,” he said, nodding toward one of the vendors selling energy sachets.
​
Marik was waiting for him near a stall selling bootleg tech. “You came,” Marik said, grinning. “Thought you might.”
​
Jalen shrugged. “Curiosity, that’s all.”
​
Marik looked around before handing him a holo-deck, its screen flickering with a looping advertisement. The Roqore Offworld insignia spun slowly, accompanied by images of terraformed Martian landscapes and bustling colonies.
​
“Looks nice,” Jalen said dryly, handing the deck back. “But I don’t trust faction propaganda any more than Saryon’s.”
​
Marik leaned in, his voice dropping. “This isn’t just about mining, Jalen. Roqore’s hiring people to command entire grids. You’re an engineer, they need people like you to run the bases, not just dig. They’re looking for leaders.”
​
“And why would they pick me?”
​
Marik shrugged. “Maybe they won’t. But it’s better than waiting for Saryon to work us to death. They say the next fleet leaves from the East Sector hub in five days' time. Just think, what would your brother do?”
–
That night, Jalen stood by his window. His mind churned with memories of his brother, Hora Gleedman, who had left Earth years ago to join the fight. But Hora had always been the golden child, disciplined, dependable, everything Jalen was not.
​
Like his brother, Jalen had started as an engineer, but questioning authority under Saryon rule was tantamount to treason. His defiance had earned him a dead-end position on the assembly line and constant scrutiny from Enforcers. Each day felt heavier, each shift more suffocating.
​
Mars. The word was a spark, flashing through his mind as he drifted into restless sleep. By dawn, the spark was a fire.
​
When the day came, Jalen deviated. The moment he stepped off his assigned transit car at the wrong stop, the weight of his decision crashed down on him. The streets of the Enclave were alive with the imposing patrols of Enforcers. Their visors swept over the crowds like searchlights, and Jalen kept his head down, weaving through the bustling streets.
​​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The East Sector Transport Hub loomed ahead, a sprawling complex where Roqore transports arrived each week to deliver resources from distant mining operations. It wasn’t a recruitment station, but it was the only place he could find a way out. The hub teemed with Synth loaders and workers as bulky Roqore transport ships dominated the skyline, their docking ramps glowing faintly under the haze of commerce.
Jalen moved through the crowd, his nerves on edge.
He spotted a Roqore official standing near a console, supervising the loading of a massive transporter. The official, clad in a sharp gray uniform with the Roqore insignia on his shoulder, was surrounded by guards. Jalen hesitated, his mind racing. He didn’t have a holo-pass, and there was no official process for someone like him to board.
​
With a deep breath, he approached the official. The man glanced at him, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s your business here?” he asked, his tone curt.
​
Jalen swallowed hard. “I’m an engineer,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “I’ve heard Roqore needs hands on Mars.”
​
The official raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “This isn’t a recruitment hub. If you’re looking for work, you’re in the wrong place.”
​
“Wait,” Jalen said, desperation creeping into his voice. “Scan my credentials.”
​
The official sighed, clearly irritated, but waved his hand at the console. Jalen placed his identity chip against the scanner, the display flickering to life. The official’s expression shifted as the data loaded. His sharp gaze flicked back to Jalen.
​
“Gleedman,” he murmured, his tone softening slightly. “You’re related to Hora Gleedman?”
Jalen hesitated. “He’s my brother.”
​
The official straightened, his demeanor changing. “The guy’s a legend, started as a Roqore engineer, became one of the first humans through the Kalin Gate.” The official glanced over his shoulder. “Follow me.”
​
Jalen nodded, his pulse pounding in his ears as he followed the official through a series of dimly lit corridors. The hum of the transport engines grew louder as they approached a secluded docking bay. The massive transport ship loomed ahead, its cargo bay partially open, as workers loaded supplies.
​
“Keep your head down,” the official instructed, handing Jalen a small holo-pass. “This will get you onboard. Once we’re in Martian airspace, you’ll be processed as a Roqore recruit. But if Saryon hears about this, I can’t protect you.”
​
Jalen nodded, clutching the pass tightly. As he stepped onto the boarding ramp, he cast one final glance at the Enclave, knowing deep down he would likely never set foot on Earth again.
​
The transport doors hissed shut, enclosing him in a new reality as the engines rumbled to life beneath him.
