Chapter 2

The drone hovered out of the dark seam between the rustic blast doors of the bunker, and was met by a round crashing into the door beside it. It turned back on it’s projector and I flickered into view once again.

I narrowed my eyes and stepped forward, planting my feet firmly into the cracked sand, viewing multiple weathered vehicles and dozens of ragtag humans. “You have damaged my facility, and are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people.”

The people stepped backwards, surprised by my sudden appearance, but regained composure and pointed their weapons at me. “What on earth are you?” A man in the front of them, wearing tattered rags, stepped forward, and offered a confused expression.

“You know what I am.” I stared at them confusedly, narrowing my eyes further, “haven’t you ever seen Wildfolk?”

A man next to him chuckled, “A Wildfolk?” he punched the man next to him in the shoulder, “He must think he’s extinct!”

“I- Well I’m not exactly a Wildfolk…” My eyes remained trained on them. These people are not here to make friends.

The man grinned, “We gathered that, we know you’re worth far more.” The mercenaries began to inch closer to me, attempting to press me back against the doors of the bunker. “Ancient tech goes for quite the price in Midtown.”

A sledgehammer began to materialize in my hand, and I gripped it firmly. “Ancient tech will go for nothing if you can’t get your hands on it.” I raised my eyebrow, challenging them to move closer.

The man inched closer, “This one has some spunk, he must’ve been trained well!” he chuckled slightly and the people around him joined in. “Come with us, and you won’t have to be damaged.”

My hand tightened around the handle of my hammer, “Sorry, but I’m not planning on that either sir.” I swung the hammer around catching him with the handle and throwing him to the side.

“Aghhh!” He groaned, lying on the ground, and the others stood shocked for a moment, not expecting me to act, before regaining their posture and opening fire on me.

The gunshots rang loud, and came in vast numbers, quickly finding their marks.

I stumbled backward upon the shower of projectiles, watching them dematerialize against me. I need to end this quickly, or I’ll run out of power! I ran forward, yelling and swinging my hammer like a madman, feeling energy quickly drain from my drone’s power cell.

The humans began to look terrified, as it appeared that bullets do nothing against me. A few mercenaries began to stumble off and run, terrified that I might be unbeatable.

But I knew better. I can’t take much more fire! I took a few more heaves with my hammer, and knocked down a few more, but it was futile. My vision began flickering in and out and my form began to deteriorate. No, no, no! Just a little longer! I fell to my knees and looked around at the surrounding desert. What is this place? “Where- where is everything?”

“Your new home, better get used to it.” He smiled cruelly and pointed his gun at my head, “Light’s out.”

The shot fired, and my projection flickered out of existence.