The place you call the world is a chaotic mess. The world economy has disintegrated, countries have waged economic and military war, populations have depleted, borders and governments have crumbled, the environment has changed - nothing is how it once was.

The caked mud flakes off your hat as you climb the last ridge. You've been trudging through the Wasteland for a few days now. GlobeX Research Corporation, one of the few remaining large organizations, is offering meager rewards for rare and odd objects. They're cataloging and researching what's left of the world's knowledge for whatever that is worth. All you care is that some of the junk you've picked up will make sure you have some warm food in your belly and a place to sleep.

Warily you cross the last few kilometers towards the relative sanctuary of the nearest settlement. Meeting strangers is always a tense affair. You never know if they'll lend a friendly helping hand or if they'd rather stab you in the back just to rummage through your findings. And today you have it, something that is definitely valuable, something very rare. Suddenly a shadow moves out of the corner of your eye. Your blood turns to ice. Your heart pounds in your ears.

Nothing is there. You wait to make sure, shaking from adrenaline, then nervously increase your pace towards the settlement.