1 Gasmask Hunter

Chapter 1

Alister, a young man, in his mid twenties slowly opens his eyes as he wakes up in his apartment with nothing on but some boxer briefs and a bathrobe. He sits up then he looks over at two photos both in a basic looking wooden frame. The photos are of his two dogs and himself as a child, he chuckled softly while he smiles as small wave of nostalgia washes over him. "Those were better days" he said as he yawned while stretching out then he got out of his bed. he looks around at his plain apartment nothing out of the ordinary.

A kitchen, bathroom and bedroom his clothes strewn about in all of them. Alister walks into the kitchen and opens the cupboard to get some bread, he blinks a couple times to try and shake the grogginess off but to no avail. He takes two pieces of bread from the loaf and walks over to the toaster, which was placed on a bench next to a coffee machine, an open packet of cigarettes and a lighter. He puts the bread into the toaster, starts up the coffee machine then he takes a cigarette out of the packet and the lighter. He walks over to a nearby window and opens it up to look out at the city. "Mantel, what a fucking du-"he was interrupted by a meow "Hmmm?...where did?" he looks around, confused as to what made that sound. He hears it again then he looks down and sees a black cat the cat tilts it's head up at him the it puts its paw into the air as if it's pointing at him. "Oh, it's you, why are you here?" he shakes his head then he lights up his cigarette as the cat meows again "yeah, yeah I know. Get in".

The cat jumps though the open window then jumps up onto the bench. The cat sat patiently on the bench while Alister opens a small cupboard and brings out a small plate. He places the plate in front of the cat "Sorry bud, I only got some left-over ham from last night. That good with you?" He gently strokes the cat's head as he took a drag of his cigarette, the cat gently nuzzled his hand and purrs gently. He exhaled the smoke out the open window. He opens his fridge and brings out a bag of ham, he takes out a few slices. He places the ham on the cat's plate the he takes the toast out of the toaster "you know what cat? You have it easy here. Everyday you rock up to my place, meow a few times, gets some pats, a free feed. Do you know how many people would kill for something like that?"

Alister takes out a mug from the same cupboard that he got the plate from "being a huntsman can be a real pain, but it can be rewarding. Putting your life and the line for the sake of others, fighting Grimm, White Fang, Other huntsmen and Huntresses" he pours the coffee into the mug then he puts out his cigarette and flicks it out the window. "All for the right price of course" he looks at the cat "of course you aren't listening, too busy stuffing your face" he said as he smiles while watching the cat eat. He eats his toast and drinks his coffee while the cat eats in a comfortable silence, he gently rubs the cat's head again then he walks into his bathroom.

He looks at himself in the mirror "good morning handsome" he has bags under his eyes. He gently touches his cheek which has an S.D.C (Schnee Dust Company) branding on it as well as some bruises on his face. He stares at it for a little while with a hint of disgust, he runs his hand through his mid length grey hair. He opens the cabinet beneath his sink and takes out a toothbrush and toothpaste then he starts brushing his teeth, difference is though his teeth are razor sharp like a great white shark. He finishes brushing his teeth then he strips down and steps into the shower and turns on the water. His back is covered in scars though most of them look faded and some look fresh, he has a fit looking body type. He washes his body with soap while humming a tune. He got out of the shower and turns off the water, he dries himself off with a towel then he looks at his back "comes with the territory" he doesn't look all that bothered but deep inside it makes him angry. He tightly clenches his fists as he turns his back away from the mirror, he lets out a long sigh as he walks back into his bedroom then he pulls open his drawers and dresses himself in a plain white shirt, long blue jeans and a well worn jacket. He takes out a gasmask and couple of filters then he looks at his hands then he hears the cat meow as it leaps up and onto his bed "you know" he looks at the cat "my semblance is pretty dangerous, I can expel gasses like sleeping and poison out of my hands. It's pretty effective against my opponents but it's also pretty effective against me too, hence the gasmask" he stops himself for a second "why am I explaining this to a cat?" he shakes his head as he rubs the cat's cheek "guess living by myself has gotten to me a little" he chuckled to himself as he puts on the gas mask and puts the filters in his pockets. He was about to leave his apartment then he hears his scroll ring-tone go off in his pocket he takes it out and looks at who's calling him "aw fuck it's Riyaz. Wonder what job he has for me today?"

he answers the scroll "How are you on this fine day Alister?" Riyaz sounded like he was in a good mood as he was chuckling over the call "So I have a job for you, and it pays pretty well. However, it's not in Mantle". "cut to the chase Riyaz" Alister sounds frustrated while he rubs the bridge of his nose "How rude Alister! I come to you with a job and a pretty good payday. The least you could do is show a little gratitude. Well it's in Mistral. A huntsman by the name of Dimitri "The Bloodhound" Aster has gone AWOL and my client has come to me and I've come to you for this job". Alister groans as walks out of his apartment "Mistral?! are you not aware of how they treat my kind over there? Or should I go over what happened last time I was there?"

Riyaz sighed in frustration "look I didn't know that you were being set up, besides it's in the past. Look I wouldn't come to you if I didn't think you couldn't do it" Riyaz's tone was much calmer and serious "Dimitri's father is my client here and has run out of options. He is desperate and me ergo you cannot afford to disappoint him". "Fine, I'll do it. Tell him I'll find his son. If this is another set up this business "partnership" that you and I have is done" Alister hung up then he screams into his arm "God damn, fucking dip shit, ass fucking dick head".

He walks out onto the streets of Mantel, he looks around at the Atlas soldiers, guard robots, vehicles and surveillance drones that are patrolling the streets "I swear everyday I see more soldiers out on the streets. Guess the fall of Beacon really got to Ironwood, he looks like he's frightened. And he's the leader of a whole army full of soldiers, robots as well as the Ace Ops. The fact that man that terrified has that sort of power is worrying. Not just for the people of Mantel but Remnant as whole" he thought to himself as he strolled down the street "Now I got to find Wrench. She'll help me get out of here. Damn Ironwood, closing off the borders. And damn Riyaz for guilt tripping me into another job where I have to be smuggled out of this shithole" he whispered to himself as he walks around while trying to avoid the street patrols. "I swear when I save up enough Lien, I'm getting out of here and going somewhere less shit".