Unwanted Help

The sun bore down on Theios' shoulders, joining the oppressive weight of the viper head he pulled behind. If not for Kumo, he would not have made up so much ground in so little time. But now, Kumo's hum was faint, and it hovered lower with every step.

Around them, remnants of an old world jutted out of the earth. A crumbling asphalt road, barely visible beneath layers of dust, stretched off into the distance. Ancient signs, rusted and battered, bore faint traces of words no longer of value to most. This was once a place called Texas, Theios had learned, though that name held little meaning now. Everything in sight was under the jurisdiction of New Azuri.

Among the ruins were crashed Azurian ships and hovercrafts, long stripped for parts by scavengers. Some hung off the side of overhead highways, their massive beams broken and toppled like the bones of some long-dead beast. Roads were inventions of humans, but Azurian technology had no need for them. Still, Azurian patrols would travel along their path, so Theios kept his distance. He wasn’t in the mood for trouble.

Kumo's voice buzzed to life, breaking the silence. "Battery - less than one percent."

"How much time left?" asked Theios.

"Sixty-five seconds."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Sixty-three."

Theios looked up, annoyed. "Kumo! Just give it one last push. We are almost there. I can see the village just around the corner. We can make it."

"Should I tell you how many seconds are left?"

"Not yet," Theios muttered. "Push a little further."

Kumo's sensors glowed faintly. "Before I go, someone has been following us," it said hesitantly.

Theios stopped and looked around the wasteland, up and down the ruined buildings and winding roads for any sign of danger. He saw nothing but swirling dust.

"Are you sure it's not someone heading to the village?" he asked.

"Unlikely," Kumo replied. "It has been for several miles now, matching our pace and using a disrupter, so I couldn't place it exactly."

Theios frowned. "And you’re just telling me this?"

"I prioritized power for assisting with the viper head," Kumo explained. "And it didn't appear to be an immediate threat."

Theios sighed, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "Fine. Power down. I’ll handle it from here."

"With fifteen seconds to spare," Kumo quipped.

It released the rope, and its lights dimmed. The hoverbot reformed into an orb and settled into Theios's outstretched hand before he placed it back into his backpack.

Now alone with the viper head, he stared it down, gripped tightly onto the two ropes, and tried to drag it forward. The head barely budged. It had been difficult enough with Kumo’s assistance, and now the sheer weight of it seemed impossible to move on his own.

Frustrated, Theios dropped the rope and hopped atop the viper’s rough, scaly head. He couldn’t leave it here; scavengers would strip it clean before he could return for it. But he would just be wasting precious energy struggling to carry it alone.

The distant roar of an engine snapped Theios out of his thoughts. He turned to see a sleek black vehicle speeding toward him, kicking up a plume of dust. Azurian patrols.

"Great," he muttered, proceeding to sit comfortably on the viper's head as the vehicle approached.

The patrol car hovered a few feet above the ground, its glossy surface reflecting the harsh sunlight. When it stopped a few paces away, three figures emerged. Two Azurcap guards—identifiable by their short, goat-like tails—flanked a taller Azurpri, his long monkey tail curling lazily around his waist.

The Azurcaps approached first, their ray-rifles slung over their shoulders and their expressions hostile.

"What do we have here?" one of them sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "Hybrid hunting permit, please."

Theios rubbed his hands over the shimmering scales, his voice steady. "Who said this was a hybrid?"

The second Azurcap stepped closer, his eyes fixed to Theios. "Are you claiming it's not?"

Theios smirked faintly. "I was hunting lunch when the hybrid tried to steal my meal. It's a self-defense trophy."

The guards exchanged a glance, their suspicion clear. The Azurpri, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His tone was lighter, almost amused. "Let’s not waste time with permits and semantics. The real issue here is a suspicious figure loitering as he sits on a severed hybrid head. Wouldn't want any dust rising just outside Solwell Village all for this... oversized trophy of yours."

Theios tensed, he leaned a little and folded his arms. "In that case, you'll be happy to know I’m not loitering. On my way to Solwell actually. Just catching my breath." He tried to read their faces, then added, "Would you happen to have any water to share?"

The Azurpri replied, his tone teasing, "Would water get you moving again?" 

"Water gets many moving, doesn't it?" replied Theios.

"If you can’t get it away from here, we’ll have to take it ourselves," said the Azurpri.

"You’re not taking it," Theios said firmly, his voice sharp.

The guards bristled, their hands drifting toward their weapons. The situation teetered on the edge of violence when a cheerful voice broke through the tension.

"No more trophies for now!"

Theios turned to see a young woman, a blend, in a red cloak striding toward them. Her dark curls framed a face that was both beautiful and mischievous, and her confident grin suggested she was used to getting her way.

"Who the hell are you?" Theios asked, his frustration evident.

"Consider it gone from here," she said brightly, grabbing the rope attached to the viper’s teeth.

Theios shouted, "What are you do—"

Before he could finish, the girl yanked the rope, pulling the massive head forward with ease as Theios tumbled to his belly. He held on comically to the viper.

The Azurpri chuckled, clearly entertained. "Oh look, it moves." The guards exchanged a look, then removed their hands from their weapons. "Let's go," the Azurpri said, motioning for them to return to the vehicle. Looking at the girl, he whispered to himself, "Trophies, huh."

As the patrol car sped off, Theios glared at the girl. "You're welcome, by the way."

"I didn’t ask for your help," said Theios.

She grinned, unbothered by his irritation. "Sure you didn’t. But now you’ve still got your viper head, and I’ve get to have some fun. Looks like a win-win to me."

Theios looked her up and down irritatingly as his belly bounced on the viper still being dragged on the bumpy terrain by this slender girl. How had she managed to drag the massive viper head with such ease? He’d struggled alone, even with Kumo's help. His first thought, and the likely answer - gear implants.

"Aren't you going to help me pull?" she said, looking up and smiling at Theios. His pride wouldn't allow him to ask her to stop for him to get down, so he simply rolled off the side of the viper head.

"You okay?" She stopped pulling but soon saw, as expected, that he had landed on his feet.

Theios reached out for the rope, but the girl yanked it away playfully. She then quickly tossed the second rope to him and grinned.

"You're funny," she said, her tone light but teasing.

Catching the rope, Theios grumbled, "You're annoying."

"I'm Sheora," she replied, dismissing his comment entirely.

"Never asked."

"Felt like telling."