Sam shrugged. "Never had much use for religion or philosophy; those always seem to be designed to give people who aren't happy with their lives a reason to continue on with things as they are, rather than doing what you have to to get what you want. But if it makes you feel better to say there's some mysterious harmony out here, fine...but I just don't feel it."
"As for what we're all doing out here...That's something I've got ideas on. I know how people are, how they move. Someone managed to grab all eight of us, using magic, drugs, or something to make sure we wouldn't remember, and brought us out here. Stripped us of everything, too--even my contact lenses. That sort of thoroughness isn't easy, or cheap; you wouldn't do it to a random group of people. So whoever did this to us has a fair amount of power and money, and knew who they wanted. Maybe a politician or the mafia; definitely not a normal gang. Personally, I'm guessing one of the big corps."
Stepping over a protruding tree root, he continued. "And look at us: two mages, a techno, some fighters, me...that's a Running team. A big one. Whoever did this is planning something major, and they've picked us for it. At first, I thought they might be testing us to find a smaller group...you know, "best of the best" sort of thing. But there aren't doubles for everyone. Fionn's the only techno, for instance. So that's not it. Whatever we're in for, we're supposed to be in it together."
"Why we're out in the middle of frakking nowhere, though, beats the hell out of me. Either the job's out here, and we're supposed to figure it out as we go--hell of a way to avoid negotiating payment, if you ask me--or we're being tested to make sure we're up to whatever it is we're ultimately supposed to be doing."
A thought occurs to Sam, almost causing him to stop in his tracks. "And if we're being tested, then we're being watched. Hey, Fionn, if there were a drone tracking us, would you be able to find it?"