“Have you joined a guild?” Amelia asked, watching Lucian put on a new shirt, not noticing her own gaze lingering on his abs before they were covered.
“Nope,” Lucian answered, speeding down the road, passing the weathered speed limit signs from the world before, forgotten and disregarded. Before Amelia could follow up with another question, Lucian spoke first, his attention on the car’s side mirror. “The SUV is back, and it’s got friends.”
Like a pack of wolves hunting elk through the snow, a group of SUV’s maneuvered smoothly through traffic, easily keeping up with Lucian. None of the passengers onboard the vehicles could be recognized with the dark tint in the windows, and their style of pursuit didn’t seem corporate, given that they were too straightforward and lacked the subtly of corporate lackeys.
A wary expression drew Amelia’s face. A battle to reveal the truth or not happened within her. With an apologetic look, she decidedly informed Lucian, “They’re here for me. I don't know if they'll let you take me...”
“Are you going to tell me who these guys are?” Lucian asked, eyebrows scrunched together, keeping an eye on the SUVs’ positions on the road relative to them.
“Trouble,” Amelia answered with a wary smile.
Huddled over Two Tap, Amelia's beautiful image reflected in Lucian's rearview mirror, her elegance and whimsical presence could be felt by simply gazing upon her. Moving in the car windows were images of the battered remains of the Broken Ring, its dilapidated buildings looming over this part of New DC like dead trees, creating a somber atmosphere similar to a graveyard. The contrast between Amelia and their surroundings couldn’t be overstated, even Two Tap seemed to belong here more than Amelia, and she was from the Wasteland.
“Who are you really?” Lucian had to ask, locking onto her eyes in the mirror.
“I’m Melly!” Amelia declared, refusing to let Lucian see her as anything but that.
“Maybe you should just stay…”
“Hmm, that’s interesting. I wonder how much a healing potion and Cureall cost…?”
“Forget what I said. We’re getting out of here.” He owed her too much to leave her stranded. Lucian was a lot of things—ungrateful was not one of them.
Amelia, treating Two Tap like a toddler, joyfully raised both of their hands in the air as Lucian stepped on the gas, tearing through the streets. The SUV drivers found his attempt to escape quite cute. Trained never to lose their target, they were confident in their ability to keep up.
Navigating through the deteriorating slums, the narrow streets morphed into a challenging labyrinth. Lucian skillfully maneuvered his car around abandoned vehicles and piles of debris, leaving the pursuing SUVs struggling to keep up. Each encounter with an obstacle for the SUVs was near catastrophe, as if the slums themselves sought to consume their vehicles and assimilate them into the melancholic landscape.
Lucian's knowledge of the Broken Ring’s shortcuts and rundown structures proved crucial as he skillfully led the pursuing SUVs into a disused parking structure. With a series of adept moves, he disappeared from their view, leaving the SUVs trapped in the maze of concrete and steel.
“Damn, Lush. You're good,” Amelia complimented. “Isn't he good, Two Tap?” Two Tap remained silent, Amelia’s face too close to her own.
“I've lived here all my life,” Lucian replied, gazing upon the Broken Ring in the windshield that stared back at him with bleakness. Hopeless and broken, these were the slums. Amelia’s out-of-place bright visage in this setting captured his attention once again, deepening his desire to uncover her true identity.
At that thought, he pulled out his phone and made a call, setting in motion the next phase of their adventure. Since the SUVs looking for them would send a few of their cars to watch each city gate, they had to find another way out of New DC.
“Yea,” a voice answered the call.
“Bill, I need a car to meet me outside the western wall near a broken-down tractor and an upside-down billboard for condoms. Whoever comes needs to take my car and stash it somewhere safe. It’s a black 1968 Chevrolet Impala with a Gatetech engine.”
“You need what? I thought you said I’d just be your ‘info guy!’” Bill responded with indignation before suddenly saying, “Wait a minute. I never said I’d be that kind of guy either!”
“Just charge me, Bill,” Lucian urged then his voice lowered into a whisper, “And I need you to do a background check on any rich girls from the Heart Rings with the name ‘Amelia Brite.’”
William let out a deep sigh, causing a crackling sound on Lucian’s phone.
Lucian responded, “Come on, Bill. Think about it. You’re done with mercenary work. But what good is retiring? You’re too sharp of a guy, handsome too. No need to rust up for nothing. Remember what you said to me, ‘Money in your face is one move away from money in your pocket.’”
“Fine,” William relented then chuckled, “but one thing: don’t ever use New DC slick talk on me, alright? I’m a black belt at it. And, the pay better not be chump change.”
“Thanks, Bill.”
The black chevy cruised up to an abandoned repair shop and parked discreetly behind the building. Its trunk was soon popped open to reveal a set of brand new leather armor made from monster materials and a metallic quarterstaff that wasn’t. Not only did Two Tap get new clothes, Lucian bought himself a few toys too.
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Lucian would finally be able to use his [Basic Polearm] with the new weapon. A spear had caught his eye with how lethal it looked, but a fifty percent off price tag on the quarterstaff couldn’t be beat. The best thing was the fact he could wear armor instead of a jumpsuit or gym clothes.
Amelia stood beside him, staring down at the trunk’s contents as if she were looking at bargain bin. “Are you really going to use this stuff?” Amelia asked, eyeing the gear warily.
“What’s wrong with it?” Lucian asked, beginning to clasp the armor onto his body.
“It all seems…cheap.” Amelia said, struggling to find better words. Her gaze involuntarily drifted to the cowboy hat Lucian had donned before stepping out of the car. Of all his clothing, that hat seemed the most mismatched. Yet, knowing how sentimental he became when wearing it, she chose to keep that particular criticism to herself.
“Oh, come on. I know what I’m doing,” Lucian argued. “It’s all I can afford anyway. Trust me; it'll work out.” A thrill coursed through Lucian as he caught a glimpse of himself, fully armored, in the side mirror of the Chevy. He looked like a real Anointed, perhaps even a Warden. His dreams were coming true, one step at a time—baby steps, but they were still coming true nonetheless.
If only Camelia and the rest of the Madkids were alive to see him now.
With the sky above as clear as purified water he bought from the Workers’ Ring, there didn’t seem like anything could ruin this day.
A call came in, caller ID displaying Bill’s name. Lucian’s only hope was that there wasn’t any issue with the transportation he requested.
Bill spoke through the phone, “Hey, Lucian. Got a minute? It’s important.”
Lucian leaned his metal pole against the car and responded, “Yea, shoot.”
“Did you happen to mess with some Corp Anointed recently?”
Slapping a hand to his head, Lucian heaved a heavy sigh, “Oh, fuck. It can’t be…”
“Word just got sent out through the mercenary channels that Yellowbrick is looking for a pair of Anointed that beat up two of their guys.”
“Lush?” Amelia prompted, noticing Lucian staring at her with reproach.
Lucian then said in the phone, “Bill, could you hold on a minute?” He then placed the phone on the car’s hood and put it on speakerphone. “Could you repeat what you just said?”
“About Yellowbrick looking for two Anointed that beat up their guys?”
Lucian stared at Amelia without looking away, answering William, “Yup.”
William then repeated what he had said.
Amelia tried to make an apologetic expression but Lucian remained staring blankly at her, making her feel guilt.
William went on, “Our guys are calling the pair, ‘Bonnie and Clyde.’ I’m sending you the pic that was posted on the corporation boards.” On Lucian’s phone appeared a very accurate artist’s depiction of him and Amelia, except Amelia was wearing sunglasses, so her identity was practically hidden. His face, however, was clear as day.
Lucian remained staring at Amelia.
“They’re calling us ‘Bonnie and Clyde’,” Amelia said, giving him an awkward smile, “That’s kind of sexy, isn’t it?”
“Is that your girlfriend?” William asked, hearing the feminine tone in Amelia’s voice through the phone.
“Sure am!” Amelia answered, throwing Lucian an impish, almost seductive look. Her joke did not land. Expressionless, Lucian remained staring at her.
“Your girl got away scot-free,” William assured then in a darker tone, “Sorry, Lucian. They got you dead to rights.” Shuffling could be heard on the phone, William wrapping things up. “Anyways, you stay safe, Lucian. I’ll see you.” He coughed awkwardly. “If you’re still around…and alive…”
The phone then went silent.
“I’m sorry, okay?” Amelia apologized, shaking Lucian by his shoulder. “I didn’t think those Corp idiots would remember our faces so well!”
“Let’s just go,” Lucian sighed and started to walk away toward the gray landscape that was a junkyard.
“Two Tap, you forgive me, don’t you?” Amelia pleaded and turned to the thin Wastelander beside her, needing someone to validate her apology. Two Tap shivered at the thought of being cuddled again and ran to keep up with Lucian. “Fine then!”
Together, the trio traversed through the mountains of junk to reach the immense walls of New DC. A gap soon appeared within the wall they faced, showing a path that cut through to outside the city.
Frog monsters, remnants of a past Monster Gate that failed to be closed, were there in the shallow pools of water within the gap but the creatures proved no challenge. Lucian used his [Basic Polearm] to crush their heads and break with his new pole weapon. Satisfaction grew within him feeling his only Combat Art at work. He’d been aching to use it since buying his weapon.
Though he was having fun, Lucian couldn’t help but notice Amelia once again refused to fight. His only hope was that William could shed some light on her and reveal who she really was. Too much secrecy was wrapped around this beautiful young woman.
As they emerged from the gap in the wall, they were met by additional piles of debris and rubbish from the destroyed old world, serving as an added natural defense to New DC’s walls.
“I’m impressed,” Amelia remarked, gazing upon the dusty landscape outside New DC, squinting against the wind that threw dust in her freckled face. “You really do know you’re way around.”
Lucian mumbled, “Health potion and Cureall,” giving Amelia only a momentary glance. It served as a reminder to himself of why he couldn’t abandon her. Yes, he might be on the enemy list of a massive corporation, but she freely gave him expensive items. He had to tolerate the trouble she brought, or at least try to.
They soon spotted a broken billboard for condoms sticking upside down in the dirt next to a broken tractor, both covered in overgrown vegetation. A Humvee appeared not too far near a broken pile of cars with a grizzled man in a gray uniform standing next to it. On his chest sat a metal pin in the shape of a skull with words reading, “Wasted Souls.” He was a mercenary a part of the same mercenary company as William.
“Hell yea,” Lucian cheered, “Bill came through,” as he walked up to shake the grizzled man’s hand.
“William said payments for his services should be made in full and on time,” the grizzled man informed tonelessly to Lucian.
Lucian passed him a few DC bucks and grinned, “He doesn’t have to worry about that.”
The grizzled man smiled widely, displaying rotten teeth in gratitude as he thanked Lucian for the tip. Lucian handed over the keys to the black Chevy, gesturing toward the gap in the wall for the man’s return. With a nod, the mercenary departed through the passage, swallowed back up by the city.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this…” Amelia whispered excitedly to herself as she practically flew into the Humvee’s passenger seat while Lucian eased behind the wheel. Only gratitude and relief filled Two Tap as she realized she would have no more cuddling sitting in the backseat alone.
“We’re going scavenging for Wild Gates?” Amelia asked, her green eyes bright with enthusiasm.
“Nope,” Lucian rejected with smirk, “We’re monster hunting in the Wasteland!”
“…Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Bad idea!” Two Tap interjected but her small voice became drowned out as Lucian turned the Humvee’s radio to mariachi music and increased the volume to its max. Lucian then pulled down his cowboy hat firmly and stepped on the gas, sending them careening down aisles between piles of rubble toward the Wasteland that awaited them.