They had been on foot for about a whole year since Arkansas. Former convict Miles Tenham and prison guard Wally had stuck together through rain and mud. Never to leave the others side. But all the effort of the year had taken it’s toll. Miles had fallen ill. Not a decent meal or decent bed for such a long time was painful for his mind and body.

The older guard, Wally, had tried to keep the hopes up for both of them.

Avalon had made war on everyone and everything they could touch in America. To find a decent communication with anyone was damn near impossible. Miles and Wally wondered through a world made in chaos and fear. And none of them knew how far this madness had gone. Empty streets and cities. Cars that was drifting away from the two strangers. Some few encounters with wild animals. This world had changed dark for them. But at the very least they kept fighting together. Survivors of this new unknown.

Miles had no known relatives. At least nobody who cared for him during his time in jail. But Wally had friends and family somewhere. People who had run for their lives. Taken off without a word in terror. They had examined Wally’s residence without much of luck. No sign of where his wife and teenage child might have gone to. And not a word from them for one entire year.

One day, Miles dared to ask Wally what had happened. It would appear that Avalon, a cult gone mad with manpower and weapons, had taken over. It started in the White House. A raid was made from civilians who were in outrage that the president was an Avalon supporter. He had to flee his power, but in revenge Avalon struck nearly anything without a cause of reason. Like anarchists. They used a special type of robot, never known to man until the war started. Hammers had exactly the same system and coding, but differs in variation and power. Wally believed that the monster they had to fight in the courtyard in Arkansas Prison was one of these robots.

Miles decided not to ask any more about Avalon or this war that doomed everyone. The less he knew the better. All they could do was keep on living. Just like his time in prison.

Miles and Wally came to a rural town. The name of this place was unknown to them both. In fact they didn’t quite know where they were at all. The place was mostly deserted. Some scavengers here and there, but the duo decided to leave them be. One could never know who to trust.

A small hotel became their temporary housing for a few days. It was here that Wally found the dead tenant. The electronic part of the tenants exposed brain told Wally that this was a cyborg. Half-man-half-robot. Clutched in his hand was an old revolver. Something he had used on himself.

Wally gave it as a gift to Miles, as this happened to be Miles birthday. Celebrating 40 years. Hell of a gift.

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In order to help Miles, who was getting worse by every day, they had to work something out. Somewhere safe to stay. Eventually, they found a small police station in a town called Twiggy, located in the state of Kansas. The town had not been helpful in assisting the two strangers. And the hotels and hospitals were maxed out of obvious reasons. They were not alone in needing help. So for a while, this station had to do.

The place was nearly untouched and it was clear that it was only recently shut down. A note on the desk said that if anyone needed help, there was a service telephone out in the back. It also said something about a helping hand out in the docks by a boat.

Wally opened the door to a nearby garage. An old rusty police car was left in the spot. A possible way out for the duo if need be.

Miles walked through the rooms in the place and saw no cause of alarm. It was neat and pristine. He decided to rest in one of the holding cells. But kept a key on his pocket, so he could open it from the inside. He locked himself in, thinking it could stop any possible intruders.

As he laid on the slob, he fought to keep his emotions aside. But they crept up like crawlers out of the locked door of his brain. Creeping thoughts on death and pain. On this bizarre universe he entered once he came out of the jail cell. Wally had stood by his side all this time. It meant something. Something small.

He did not care much of his own worth. He was a convict. Living the rest of his life in a cell. But Wally who just did his job. He was older, kinder. A man who needed protection in this madness.

Miles felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier. At last he could embrace the dark. Fall asleep.

Wally decided to stay up for a little while. Walking around the station and figuring out where all things were.

The weapon-cabinet was empty. And no ammunition was found. However, leaning towards the wall was an old rifle. As old as they could be. Loaded with a few rounds. It was something to keep.

The old security guard found a room with a new equipment. Most likely the newest before the station shut down.

It was a 500 X radio. A communication device that ran on holographic censoring. Able to project a holographic image of the receiver.

He had hopes that he could find out where his family was.

Wally sat down to temper with the old radio for a small while when something got his attention. A rattling little noise from down below. Carefully pressing his ear at the cold marble-floor, he was sure to hear something move down below.

Wally found the door leading down to the cellar. A room he had fail to find earlier. Must be his tired state that was too exhausted to know the layout of the facility. Wally traversed down the stairs, rifle laying comfortably in his hand.

A hallway, divided into four visible rooms. But the area was dark, as if the power inside was dead. Wally took cover to the shadow of the wall as he saw the younger woman in the chair. Tied up from behind and two men stood above her. They wore black cloaks with an insignia on the back. Similar to the Avalon men who raided the prison in Arkansas.

The woman was interrogated by these two Avalons. Asking about a nearby boat. She was beaten, but her skin looked different. It was like brown rocks. Crackled skin. Hardened.

Wally had never seen a mutant before. Most of them died of young age. The few survivors was usually seen like pests by humans. Freaks.

Wally turned to the staircase and wandered up, backing as slowly as he could. As he backed up, he saw two other figures walking out of a room. Most certainly company of the Avalon guards. One of them had a sword, reflecting the light from upstairs into it’s blade.

Miles woke up by the rattling in the jail cell. When he saw Wally’s face through the metallic bars, he though, just for a moment that he was in Arkansas. In a jail cell where he belonged. When he remembered, like the thunder from a clear sky. And the look on Wally’s face said it all.

Wally explained about the woman in the cellar and these men. Miles was thinking that the best to do was to leave it be. But then he saw the rifle that Wally kept clutched in his hands. In his hazy state, Miles understood. He understood that Wally wanted to do something good again. Like when he decided to stand by the escaped mans side on a journey to nowhere on a land gone to hell by war. Miles nodded and opened the jail cell, revolver drawn out.

The sound came from the entrance of the station. It was a loud bang and it was obvious that they had an unwanted visitor. Wally and Miles stood frozen, guns aimed at the origin of the noise. Wally took a few steps to the reception. And Miles, reluctantly, followed his steps. He was so tired, so hazy. He could barely hold the rusty revolver straight.

A fast shadow came from the room, in a great speed and knocked Wally on his back in a fast motion. It punched Miles in the trout with a fast punch of the elbow. Miles rolled over to his back on the ground and nearly saw the face when it pressed a barefoot feet on his chest, in heavy power. He was stuck like in a vise.

The incredible power came from a young woman. About 20 years old. She wore a white jumpsuit and a handmade bandanna. A fighting expert straight from a comic book. With red eyes of rage she lowered her fingers over Miles eyes, just about to press them out of his socket. Terrified, he screamed!

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An Avalon dressed man, armed with a uzi, came running from behind the woman. She turned and saw the figure aiming his gun at her, in a bloody rage. The bullets flied over her head, only hitting the wall behind her. She dropped her footing of Miles, who rolled over to Wally, looking into the eyes of the confused man. The strong woman made a fast punch at the mercenary with the uzi, decking his face into the floor in one straight move. She knew her moves for sure.

Miles helped Wally up to his feet as they saw the uzi guy lying on the floor in pain. They explained to her about the lady down the cellar. The fighter called herself Cortia and explained that Avalon had her boss, Emma Gale, captive.

It was obvious that she did not trust the people in front of her and was ready to do them in the way she did to the uzi guy.

Miles grasped Cortia by the shoulder and tossed her aside in a fast motion. Another Avalon guy was running up to them. This was the guy with the sword. Miles kicked the guy in the ribs, so hard that he fell back by the impressive thrust, hitting the floor in a painful landing. Cortia screamed as she saw the uzi- guy aiming at her for another try to make her taste blood. The rattling gun fired a stream of bullets. Two of them got Cortia in the shoulder and she fell back, yelling at the massive pain surging through her body. Wally aimed with the rifle towards the uzi man in retaliation and fires a shot that penetrate through the mans chest.

Miles dived over the Avalon with the sword, landing with his knee over the guys neck. The Avalon grabbed his sword and smiles as he tried to swing it over Miles. Miles saw the move coming and leaned back, landing on his ass, all defense less as the swordsman stood up, blade raised.

A slender-looking robot made all of steel came in through the door to the police station, holding a long sniper in his hands. The robot aimed at the man with the sword, who fell to the ground, avoiding a penetrating shot that nearly got Miles in the head.

The sword man, filled with marvelous rage, used his momentum to rush towards the sniper, sword raised in his hands. The robot blocked the assault with the sword, using nothing but his sniper. And knocked the handle into the face of the sword man with such a gushing might, that his face erupted into a fountain of blood.

The sword man collapsed on the ground, dead on impact.

The robot explained himself as DeadEye. The injured lady was Cortia. They were survivors from different areas. Coming together just like Miles and Wally had, during different situations.

The leader was Emma Gale. A bright young woman who owed a ship in the harbor. She had recently had a falling out with Avalon, who had taken her to the cellar of this police station.

Miles knew that they had no choice but to assist in aiding these people. With Cortia, lying injured on the floor and one Avalon guard, armed with a uzi, barely alive. Miles and Wally could not walk away from this. Miles gave Wally the order to kill the Avalon man who still was alive. And to tend for Cortia and keep her safe. Miles and DeadEye was ready to head down to hunt the two remaining Avalon guards. And save a woman in trouble.

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The cellar was silent. Too silent. DeadEye scanned with his sight, but in vain. Miles understood that whatever service the robot once had, he was old. An old, outdated robot and a former convict trying to save a kidnapped victim. Sounded like the odds was far from in their favor.

The girl was sitting on the chair, visibly tired and injured. Miles could tell that she had been tied there for quite some time. Hours, maybe even days. The girl, apparently named Emma Gale, nodded to one of the rooms. Her eyes focused on DeadEye, as she hoped he would understand her. He did, turning his face slowly at the open room to the left. The door was closed, but DeadEye broke in with a massive kick with his leg, breaking it open in the loudest bang of the room.

Miles sighed at the old robot, knowing he just gave away their position in an obvious ambush.

One of the Avalon guards, a tall figure with thick beard, stood just behind the door as it flew up. The guy swung an axe at DeadEye, scratching his guts of steel.

Miles saw something in the corner of his eye and turned around just in time to see the second guard jump out from another room, holding a bat. The bat hit Miles in the gut, decking him to his knees. Miles drew his gun in a fast motion, while coughing trying to find air. The shot echoed in the room, nearly deafening them all, as the bullet penetrated the neck of the guy. Blood gushing out to the wall behind him like a fountain.

DeadEye was struggling to avoid the axe from his enemy. Swinging through the air and nearly hitting him a few times. In a vain attempt, DeadEye crouched, and fired the sniper without taking aim. The shot got the axed man in the leg. He threw the axe at the robot sniper in a desperate move. The axe drilled it’s way into the head of DeadEye, getting stuck in the skull.

DeadEye fell flat on his back, shaking heavily as he struggled to remain alive.

The bearded man left the room and limped into the hallway to stop the other intruders. First he saw the blood on the walls of his Avalon partner, lying on the ground, fighting to breathe. Then he saw Miles, assisting in getting Emma Gale free from her captivity by untying her wrists from the chair.

Emma burst out from the chair, running to the bearded Avalon man and tackled him to the nasty concrete floor. A wooded bat swung around, knocking Emma in the head. The bat shattered at it broke on her unnaturally strong skin. Pieces dropping all over the bearded mans face as he observed in fear. She took a choke hold of him.

Miles took aim with help of the chair to stabilize his arm. He fired and shot the Avalon with the shattered bat, straight in the head. Clean execution. The target sailed down to the floor as if his soul fought not to leave his body.

Miles saw from afar as Emma Gale strangled the life out of the bearded man. Choking him with every rage of her body and mind. It triggered memories to Miles. Of rage and hate. The very things that drove him to his life in a cell.

Emma was fast in getting into the room where the robot friend was. DeadEye was lying on the floor, his eyes shifting in colors and various metallic plates moving back and forth. Shifting as it was trying to find air to cool down it’s heat. The robot was really fighting. Soon it became aware, head tilting up to see her. Still with the axe stuck in his head.

“I am sorry, Miss Gale. I simply can not fight it.”

Smoke poured out of the hole of his skull. His head froze in motion, before tilting down. DeadEye was no longer functioning. Emma was moved to tears by this. Something Miles had never seen anyone act around a robot before. Yet again she was a mutant. And mutants was mostly frowned upon.

He got out of the room, giving her space to grieve her dead friend.

Wally was sitting upstairs, struggling to stabilize the injured warrior Cortia. She was breathing heavily as he gently cared for her wounds with some simple materials he had found in the communication room. Wally knew she was going to be okay. Even if she lied there, moaning in pain.

Same could not be said for the Avalon soldier who was in his last breaths. His chest moved up and down and blood poured out of his mouth as his lungs tried to find a way to get air pumping into his body.

Wally had lost his caring for anyone of Avalon. Hearing tales as he and Miles had gone around for such a long time. He knew these bastards did all this. Caused all this mayhem. Them and their killer-robots could go to hell for all he cared for.

The Avalon soldier drew his last breath, eyes staring at the ceiling in terror.

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The four survivors of this event was tired. As they walked away from the massacre they left in the station. But according to Emma, the harbor with the ship, was close.

She had been a worker on board when the war came. The ship was on shore to be fixed for an engine problem. She was left to guard it as the captain and his men joined the fight against Avalon. And they never came back. In fact, the harbor is mostly left alone now. Apart from some hobos and a few guards.

Among the homeless she found the incredibly violent girl, Cortia. She had kept her safe on board. As for company and for helping out for a safe place to sleep. Eventually another ship came by. Most inhabitants were sick. Cortia and Emma could not help them, as most of them past away during a week. But one they managed to save.

A former council-man named Lambert. He had fled an assault performed by his closest man. A man he trusted who turned out to be an insider from Avalon. But Lambert had a helping hand in form of an old combat-robot, named DeadEye.

They had all stayed at the ship for quite some time. Nearly six months together. Helping out in order to try to fix the parts of the boat. But the constant words of Avalon and Hammer got to them. They were scared, as resources grew slim. Emma discovered that a nearby mall was under control by Avalon. During a job to break in, Emma was captured. Luckily she had taken down five guards by her own, before they took her for transport to the police station.

Miles and Wally never had any idea that this encounter would cause them to stay together. But that was how fate took it. Cortia, Miles, Wally and Emma came to the ship in the harbor. And while the war out in the nation grew strong, they had to remain stronger.

On the ship, they met the elderly man named Lambert. A man with calm manners was necessary to keep morale going. They all grieved DeadEyes passing and had a proper funeral for his body. Nobody knew what to do next. Where to go or how to get there. All they had was a ship. And sometimes you must use what you have to get somewhere.