Chapter 10

The outside world is a desolation of humankind on all fronts, all levels. People who live outside the walls of Requiem, and in the other cities live in a completely different world. One where nature has conquered man in an attempt to end the plague known as humanity once, and for always. But humanity is the ultimate, cockroach, the ultimate parasite. Think for one second of the definition of a parasite. It is a creature that lives on another that pulls resources, giving nothing in return, and sometimes harming it. Humans have been eating the earth alive since they were born into it.

Miles saw the savage destruction caused by humankind. The petty emotions, and the violent rage of the average human creature. He himself was also to blame. He was a great achiever. He was going to save humanity. He was going pull the people from the ashes. He had his friend under surveillance for years. He kept his friend frozen for years, and he has preserved himself for years. He didn’t want his friend to wake up to that same race of humans. He wanted the place that Mason woke up to be a wonderland.

Happy, sunny boulevards on every corner with the disgusting attitudes of man wiped clear. He wanted the world to truly follow the whole treat people as you would want to be treated model. First day cancer vaccinations were a nightmare. People in droves pushing down, and violently pushing through others. There was absolutely no order. It was absolute chaos.

“These animalistic creatures! I have spent my entire life without my friend, curing your ailments! How dare you be this way! The human race are ungrateful swine. They grovel in the dirt for their individual survival, and even worse they betray each other! And I am no better!”

Miles fell to the ground with his face pushed against a cold tile floor. The room was freezing, and there were massive goose bumps on his arms.

“I am so sorry!” squealed Miles as he began crying with his face wrinkling from the emotional pain that plagued him.

“I’m sorry Mason!” Miles said as he choked on the ground of a lab floor. His eyes stopped flowing with streams of tears.

“I will finish what I started!” Miles proclaimed as he made a fist with his shriveled up body, and now tiny hands.

“I am getting rid of the parasites as we speak! I will now move onward with holy dominion as my witness that I will create the perfect living creature! Unwaged from things such as hunger, emotion, pain, and death!”

“I loved, I felt, I hated, I fixed. I will fix things. And if it turned out that they weren’t broken, then by god they are still better!” Miles said as he slowly stepped, swiping the dust off the top of a once pristine white table as he looked forward, toward a pod shaped chamber with a glass door.

“I will fix things!” he screamed.

“I will be the god of a new world. A world of newly refined beings that I will create, and join! I will create a new race.”

Miles prophesized, as though he were already the pinnacle of humanities greatness. Which he was. He was strong, courageous, brilliant, and hoped for the future. He was the current perfect build for humanity. And would not rest until the world was shaped by his vision of it. A place where all was equal, and all was ruled by him. Humanity no more!

“Humanity will need its alarm clock for, extinction!” said Miles, a true man of developed insanity.

A young boy dazed looks at a picture frame with him, an older man, and a lady with brownish auburn hair that flowed, with a glisten. The dazed boy was crying in his sheets. He never understood how beautiful the woman in that picture was until then.

“I am sorry, sorry, sorry!” the boy cried out.

Earlier that day in the morning before the mourning. Traffic honked and beeped.

“I already told you that I need the gold membership!” the boy screamed from the backseat. He kept pouring out cola from his bottle onto the seat of the car.

“I know baby, I’m sorry! That was all we could afford!” the kid then started kicking at the car door with anger. He was crying with a boiling red face as he puffed his cheeks no longer speaking. They then drove up on the freeway with the kid still screaming in the backseat. The woman tried her best to focus on oncoming traffic.

“Why do you guys hate me!? Why do you guys hate me!?” screamed aggressively more the boy, on and on he screamed. The woman kept steering.

“I am sorry we didn’t get the gold membership. I promise we will get it by Christmas sweetie!” The woman ushered as she spoke in a sweet voice to calm the boy down. The boy in anger said “No!” as he threw a soda bottle half full at his mother’s head.

Their car sped into the oncoming lane as a minivan plowed into the front left side. The airbags deployed “Crack!”, and there wasn’t much damage to the car. After a small bout of whiplash the boy regained his current mindset. He said “Ow!” as he rubbed the back of his neck from the soreness. He looked upfront and the deflated airbag was pushed down by the body of the woman laying on top of it.

“Mom?” said the boy at first regularly.

“Mom!?” said the boy with a somewhat cracked voice.

“Mom!” said the boy with a squeal as he unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned forward to hold her.

Just a couple minutes later there were sirens in the background as this boy clenched his mother in a large hug embrace as she lay there with a snapped neck. He cried out loudly as the people who crowded around watched in shock. The crying felt like he was crying into a void. He couldn’t hear a thing. And the only thing he could see was his mother, lay peacefully dead in his young arms. He sat there crying, and looking at her, as the sirens of an ambulance grew closer.

A fist was being thrust repetitively into the face of a dirty man, as the nose cracked, and as he got bloodshot, and blood dripped from the skinny, skeleton looking man.

“That is what happens when you try to steal our food!” Dexter yelled as he kept punching the man in brutal fashion as the man begged, and begged for him to stop.

“Maybe you have done enough?” said Joseph as he put light force on Dexter’s shoulder with his hand.

“Get your dirty hand off me nigger!” yelled Dexter as he elbowed Joseph’s gut.

“Please, please I have a family!” yelled the hurt, bloody man.

“What!? I couldn’t hear you!” sadistically said Dexter as he pulled out his sidearm then pistol whipped the man.

“Yeah! Uh huh. What do you have?” said Dexter again.

“A family!” yelled the man in pain under Dexter.

Dexter then pistol whipped him again. The man’s face was bloodier than a surgeons operating table. Dexter then cocked the gun, and pushed the barrel right up to the man’s forehead.

“Say one word, and your brains will be abstract art all over the floor!”

“Come on! That’s enough Dexter!” Joseph screamed.

Dexter stood over the beaten man. The cold look Dexter was giving him was unsettling.

“Maybe you should keep your greasy little hands off other peoples stuff! It’s like there’s no manners anymore. Now scram get outa here little bitch!” Dexter screamed as he kicked at the man until he ran away. Joseph sat back ashamed of what he let Dexter do to that poor man.

“You can’t just do that Dexter!” Joseph said.

“Why not JoJo?” said by Dexter as he pushed Joseph to the ground.

“He is right Dexter!” Mason said walking toward him.

Trailing behind Mason was Sylvia, and the man from earlier. Mason as they got next to the Armored DB knelt down to ask who this man was. “My name is Carver.” The man said hesitantly.

Mason pulled out a few military rations, and a case of water. He walked over to the man.

“This is yours now.” Said Mason.

He handed the food, and water to the man as Carver’s face lit up. Dexter didn’t like what he was seeing.

“Are you insane?! You gave that little thief our food!” angrily re-informing that Carver had tried stealing food.

“Noblesse Oblige Dexter. Noblesse Oblige.” Said Mason. As Dexter angrily scratched his head.

“What does that even mean!? You aren’t even a soldier man!” screamed Dexter as he violently poked at Mason’s chest.

Sylvia then grabbed Dexter’s arm violently.

“Hiding behind your pussy, you are such a coward!” saying Dexter as he swatted her arm away.

That didn’t fare so well with Mason. The mission was already a couple weeks in, and the stress was getting to the whole team.

“Just cut the tough guy act Dexter. Picking on the weak isn’t tough!” Mason phrased.

“You wouldn’t know tough, you have your chick fight your own battles for you! Remember earlier?!” Dexter yelled as Mason’s mind sailed back to a battle several days prior.

A scruff with a few irons as Mason was struggling with one, Sylvia had to step in to help. That being brought up angered Mason.

“I don’t need her help for taking care of trash like you!” Dexter then laughing at that.

“Then prove it Einstein, if you’ve spent your life developing brain then don’t start a fight with bronze!”

Mason swings his left hook, but then his hand is deflected by Dexter’s right as his left gut punches Mason. Mason coughs but quickly regains footing as he grabs Dexter’s shirt, he then pushes him up against the Armored DB. Dexter then head-butts Mason as Mason is taken back by it. Dexter punches Mason swiftly in the chest, and Mason falls to a sitting position. Sylvia quickly moves with the intent of running to Mason’s aid but Mason puts his hand up.

“I can do this! No need to help!” Mason says with Dexter once again chuckling.

Dexter before Mason even pulls himself up is already getting bashed on repetitively with kicks to the chest, and one kick to the face almost doing in Mason. Mason is heaving on the ground but he assures Sylvia he is okay. He tries pushing himself up but the sting on his skin from the repeated kicks to the chest are getting to him. He puts his dukes up to prepare for Dexter as two mechanics, and another Armored DB are approaching from the distance. They were off securing locations, and scouting ahead for signs of crowds of irons.

But this didn’t stop the two from fighting. Mason knew he wasn’t going to win this through his strength alone. He would have to utilize both his brain, and bronze. Mason ran right in then threw a left handed punch but quickly switched it up with a right cross instead. The punch was enough to push Dexter back but not much else. But it did allow Mason to get a few more shots in before Dexter kneed Mason, then punched him in the face causing Mason to spit blood a split second after contact.

Sylvia watched hesitantly as Mason was brutally beat. But Mason wasn’t completely done for as he was able to get a swift punch to the jugular in. Dexter now up, and off Mason, Mason sees an opening on his leg that could end the fight. He goes to break the leg when he suddenly stops.

“If I break the leg then what of the mission?” Mason thought.

Unwilling to compromise the mission Mason backs off. Dexter wise to the act shows little care, and still throws a right cross bringing Mason down. Mason now laying in the dirt is choking as Sylvia, and Joseph eagerly help him up. Dexter stands smiling, and clapping for himself over his victory.

“Mason just as a heads up. A baby cow shouldn’t pick a fight with a bull!” Dexter said right before getting slammed into the ground by a strong punch from Wayne who had returned from scouting ahead.

“Stay down calf.” Wayne said to Dexter as he walked to Mason.

“What is going on here?”

Clive stood in the thick of his soldiers as he asked that question.

“That little shit gave away good resources!” an exhausted Dexter said as he sat up holding his bruised cheek.

“I just felt that we should help if we can! Besides I may not of if somebody wasn’t sadistically torturing them!”

“Hey shithead, I wasn’t!”

Clive yelled at both of them to shut up. Wayne then looked at Joseph.

“Is what Mason said true Joseph?” Wayne asked as Joseph shook his head yes.

“Now listen the both of you! One of you is barely a soldier, and the other is a hot headed, pretentious ass. Both need to get your shit together as not to compromise the mission!” Clive commanded.

“Why not? This mission means nothing to me! Its bullshit!” Dexter said as Clive scowled at him.

“A feeble mind such as yours Dexter may not care but I have it in strong belief that what we do here will change the world. This mission by the end may not mean much to you but it might if it is like I imagine it to be.”

Clive closed his case. He didn’t picture his mission this way. Such a disparity between his soldiers for such an important mission. Much like how Wayne felt during document retrieval. He had a soldier who wasn’t really one, an asshole, a co-commander who hates him, a new girl, a man driven by revenge, a new guy who is timid yet determined, and to top it off his best soldier she doesn’t even want to be there. He felt it was possibly a trial to see how worthy he is.

“I am closing this case right now! We are halfway across the country, and there are demons lurking around many, corners, nooks, and crannies! We have to move!”

The team then starts preparing each vehicle with Mason even piloting a mechanic opposite July this time. This was a new feeling not having Sylvia as backup. He had almost always had Sylvia watching his back. To top it off for Mason he had Dexter in the mechanic for Wayne’s squad first time around. But at least Sam was also piloting, and that’s one soldier Mason may rely on for help in the heat of battle. But then that unsettles Mason. His first thought wasn’t a pleasant one.

“What if he harbors feelings against me for what happened to Dean!?”

And Mason couldn’t help but see that as a possibility. He wasn’t in combat yet, and they weren’t purposefully charging into battle so Mason calmed himself down. His hand was shaking but that was mostly from his bloody brawl with Dexter. His body was unused to such abuse, he was starting to feel dizzy.

The controls, and levers in the mechanic may be starting to become more natural to Mason but he still isn’t quite cut out for combat. The situation that Dexter referred to was a small group of irons that had attacked the group. And Wayne’s team was traveling a different path leaving the Armored DB in a narrow highway tunnel that the DB’s only defense in the dark was Mason, and Sylvia. The battle wasn’t great by any standards but Mason was inexperienced.

One iron had him pinned in place as another continued to flank him. Sylvia had to quickly finish off her adversaries then tend to Mason. She was very protective of him, and Mason was grateful. But Mason still wished he could fend for himself. That he could stand on his own two feet to help Clive realize his dream.

“I will make this team proud!” Mason clenched his controls and calmed his mind. “I will be ready this time.” He thought. Then speaking through the communicator was July.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked Mason.

“Yeah I will be fine.” Said Mason with confidence.

“Good. I am not as experienced as Sylvia, and I am not sure I will be able to bail you out of trouble is all. Glad to hear you are on top of things. Good lucksies!” July said as encouragement.

Mason not enjoying the weight, and brutal honesty of that last statement keeps his ego in check but the very last part made him chuckle a bit. He then uses logic to reassure July that he will be okay.

“Don’t worry, there is plenty of room for the Armored DB out here to dish out damage. Don’t forget that Sylvia is managing the gun.” Mason assured her. That of which relieved July so she could focus on her safety.

Mason was finally realizing that he must be out of his mind. Someone with no combat experience, and a few day crammed in lesson on how the tech works wanted to be a part of the most dangerous military operation ever performed by a team from Requiem. He needed purpose though. He was smart before befriending Miles but he had no real direction. He didn’t actually believe he would have been able to cure cancer on his own. Now he had Clive who was much like his own friend without the part where Clive is actually his friend.

He wanted to help Clive like he had helped Miles. He was interested in what Clive was fighting for but he would never be able to fight for it on his own. He had always used other people as a catalyst for work that he found interest in. That is just how he is.

“Left side! We have a single target, and he seems to be fixed on us!” Clive pointed out through communication to the team. Mason was scared. They would have to take out the target without firearms as not to alert a possible herd in the distance.

Clive then ordered Dexter to take care of it, and deep down that bothered Mason for some reason. He thought that he would rather face it himself than allow the mental torture of letting the man who was belittling him take the reins. But Mason was smarter than that. He decided he was going to keep himself in check as to not avoid compromising the team.

“I will do it!” screamed Sam angrily. Sam wouldn’t admit it out loud but he was just interested in revenge. Interested in slaughtering every iron he had the opportunity to, all for the sake of his dead friend Dean.

“Are you sure?” Wayne asked knowing it may be a vendetta.

But Clive showed no interest in that. Clive stated that as long as Sam could affectively get the job done that he didn’t care. “I can do it!” said Sam.

Mason kept his eyes planted on Sam as to learn from Sam’s technique. Mason was also relieved that he didn’t have to watch Dexter show him up. Sam was about to display what needs to be done instead. That way Mason could focus on learning rather than jealously.

Now the way that it works when the whole group keeps moving reluctant to slow down, and only one or two adversaries show interest in the group is one or two mechanics keep the right speed with the DB, and instead of detaching the gun from the suit they use there opposite hand that is already using the hand limb, and use the opposite arm with the mechanics combat knife to quickly finish off the opponent or two opponents so the team can quickly continue on with the mission without expending more time, ammo, or endangering themselves further.

Sam using his mechanic to reach back for the combat knife with the opposing mechanic arm pulls the knife forward then steadies it. The iron is getting closer, and Sam puts himself upfront to make his own self the noticeable target. The iron gets fixed on Sam, and just the iron gets to him Sam slows down throwing it off while lunging for the face killing the beast then maneuvering around its dead corpse as quickly as he killed it with a 360 spin. Mason was in awe of his skill in combat situations like that.

“Good work.” Said Clive continuing forward, as Wayne kept driving onward in relief. What impressed Mason even more was he knew from their past couple weeks of working together that the turmoil of Dean’s death still effected Sam’s current viewpoint on the beasts, and that he was still able to calmly dispatch the creature was quite a feat. He was going to strive to be like that to make this mission a success.

The past couple weeks were a whole new lifestyle to Mason. He was being required to follow orders, and protocol like a puppet. But all that was different was the presentation. He had to be subjected like that when he worked for Miles or if he were to get a regular job. It would be like that everywhere he went. And that didn’t bother him. He had no sense, or need to go out and make his name worth something.

He had always felt that he shouldn’t have to have a purpose. And following orders was something Mason could understand, something he could get behind. The many have been riding the coattails of the few for thousands of years. Mason wondered why he should be any different. It gave him purpose, and that is all he really cared about.

“Supply check!” Clive announced. They had only been driving for two hours, and this puzzled Wayne.

“We are going to burn daylight on a supply run?!” Wayne asked.

“Well I hate to diminish Mason’s morality, but we lost good supplies when he shared with that Carver character, and we would benefit from retrieving more. We have no idea how long this mission will take. We will search for this city in the west for as long as it takes until proven that it never could have existed!”

And upon hearing those words everyone except for Mason, and Sylvia lost morale. And Clive was serious. Joseph especially was shaking. Upon stopping, Clive ordered both Dexter, and Sylvia to check an abandoned convenience store they happened on. The shattered window glass all over the floor on the inside of the store crackled upon Clive’s footsteps to get in the building. On the inside you could see the outside light creeping in as from the exposure of the light, and in the shadows could be seen dust mites floating through the air. Joseph sat in the Armored DB with his head in in his hands. He could feel the stress piling on.

“What about my family? How long will this take? What if I die!?” Joseph thought to himself. He felt anxiety engulf his body.

The back door opened, and there was Wayne, and July with July asking “You might enjoy some fresh air. It might do your body good Joseph.”

Joseph looked up at the pair of them with a look of distress then plopped his face back into his hands. Wayne jumped in then put his hand on Joseph’s back. He was looking to comfort Joseph. Besides apart from Clive, and Mason nobody actually wanted to be here.

“Come on man what’s the deal? Is something troubling you?” Wayne asked.

“I can’t believe that man is dragging us all across the country to find this western city! Who knows how long that will take? And we will be searching California forever, if it is even in California!” Joseph exhaustedly exclaimed.

Wayne knew what he meant. And on top of it all he didn’t even like Clive. But Wayne respects Clive, and that is reason enough for him to go through this mission even though he was hesitant at first. Not to mention he shared more with this mission than usually.

“I understand man. I mean you are new to the game, and you have responsibilities back home. I get it, and we are here for you.” Wayne said.

“But what if… what if I die? I don’t think my mother can look after, and afford to take care of my brother on her own!” Stated Joseph.

A statement that for a brief moment made Wayne think of his little bro. he put his hand down to feel for the lighter in his pocket, and Wayne then zoned out from the conversation. Keeping his mind preoccupied with other things.

“Listen here Joseph. I am new to this too, and I too have a family to provide for. Both me, and Wayne get it. Get some fresh air, I think it will do you good!” July told Joseph with a smile which also snapped Wayne back to reality.

“Um yeah Joseph. Get out here and enjoy yourself.” Wayne said awkwardly as July helped Joseph up, and out of the Armored DB. Stepping out Joseph was able to stretch, and breathe in the summer air which gave only brief comfort.

Mason who was sitting around the corner had heard the conversation, and gave Joseph a reassuring nod, and told him that when he got home it will have been all worth it. Joseph smiled at that sentiment. Joseph didn’t believe it but he knew Mason meant well. Mason on the other hand didn’t just believe it. Mason now lived it as he would continue to fight for Clive’s cause for the rest of his life in one way or another. He did hope that he could get back to lab work soon despite it all though.

Mason feeling a small tug to research something, anything so he picks up some dirt off the ground. He didn’t actually believe he would find something. He just felt like he has been out of his element for far too long. He didn’t find anything interesting but he enjoyed pointing out the different particles of rock, and it temporarily calmed him. Wayne looked out into the distance wondering how long this mission would take exactly. It didn’t matter much. He doesn’t have much in Requiem anyway.

Clive shaved around corners, and held a flash lighted MP5 in constant aim in front of him as he used his peripherals on constant with both Dexter, and Sylvia behind him. Dexter was using the newly developed Arkada shot-gun carrying it with the greatest of ease, since he had gotten to use it, and had a taste for its power. They checked shelves upon shelves finding nothing but staled dry foods, and tortilla chips. There wasn’t any water either

Clive noticed the door to the back, and thought of the possibility of water, or other things in storage. He lightly stepped forward as not to draw attention to himself, and put his hand on the door knob with Dexter, and Sylvia right behind him. He thrusts the door open to reveal behind it nothing but a near empty storage area. He looks around for labels or brand names, but to no avail he was unable to find anything of the sort. He notices a red gasoline can, and he picked it up revealing from the weight, and sound of swishing liquid that it was full. He smelled it, and there was no gasoline, and it after further inspection was actually water. Sylvia picked up a crummy empty chip back revealing the possibility that this may be somebody else’s water.

“Are we taking it sir?” Dexter asked as Sylvia’s face dropped from the question. She didn’t think that they should but was going to wait for Clive’s answer. Clive looked around for a second seeing what else he could find.

“Yeah, pick it up, and load it up. Take the water.” Clive said as Sylvia was about to intervene as a voice screamed

“Wait!” from an opening in the ceiling a man jumped down forcing Clive to immediately aim at him.

“That is all the water I have!” the man said as Dexter plopped it off the ground, and into both hands.

Sylvia sat back to listen to what the man had to say as did Clive.

“I need that water! It is too dangerous enough fetching water around these parts as it is but you are also going to take what I use to transport it? Please don’t take that!” the man begged.

“Have a heart!” he exclaimed. At that moment Sylvia put her hands on Clive’s shoulder then said.

“Please just leave it. If you take this then what Mason did for Carver will have been a waste!”

“I have to take it! This will make up somewhat for what Mason has wasted already!” Clive sternly said. Sylvia then squeezed Clive’s shoulder.

“Sir I respect you, you know that I always have. But Mason helping that poor Carver character was not a waste!” Sylvia stated. Than in an attempt to talk to the old Sylvia he said

“Rust! I don’t care about your new found fascination for Mason but you are a soldier! Now we need this water for this poor man’s sake as well!”

“I am not Rust anymore, and Mason was right in what he did. Now Mason respects you but I think it should be you respecting him!” Sylvia says.

Clive stares at her harshly as Dexter stands impatiently holding the container of water.

“I respect Mason more than you think! For his scientific brilliance, but as a soldier and a leader that respect is thinning!” Clive says as he signals to Dexter to carry the water out to the Armored DB.

Though Sylvia who is now angry with Clive’s decision rushes ahead of Dexter. Clive now with his back turned has the man conspiring behind him. The man pulls a makeshift knife from behind his back with the intention of killing Clive, taking his gun, and killing the other soldiers. All that to ensure he has a couple more weeks’ worth of water. Unluckily for the man that Clive’s senses were incredibly sharp. He charged on Clive as Clive quickly turned to pump holes into the man’s chest sending him flying back. Sylvia rushed back in along with Mason, and everyone else except for Sam who was sitting in his mechanic, hoping, and waiting for an enemy to present itself.

The man still breathing on the ground is coughing up blood, and cursing up a storm.

“Damn you!” he chokingly said.

“All you brutes are good for is stealing, and killing!”

The man screamed before choking so much he couldn’t even talk. He choked a bit more until he could feel his consciousness slipping away. He then died there on the cold, hard ground. Wide eyed Clive walked up to the poor man’s body. He checked for a pulse, then he shut the man’s eyes. Clive himself was upset that it had to come to that.

“You fool! You’d throw your life away?! You should have just stayed down!” Clive said voice cracking.

“Shouldn’t we bury the body?” Mason said wanting to move on. Feeling guilt just from being there.

Clive looked back at Mason.

Clive had wanted to say something along the lines of it being Mason’s fault but refrained because he knew it wasn’t true. He was just desperate to blame it on someone rather than take responsibility, and mourn the death. But he knew that would make him like every other flawed human creature.

“He would probably want to be buried out here if he had died. I know I’d want you guys to bury me regularly.” Mason said as he grabbed Sylvia’s hand to hold it thinking of what Sylvia said in the sniper’s nest.

Clive then was left with a decision. He would either put his men in harm’s way to bury this man out of respect or leave safely. Outside near the closest soil to the vehicles for safety the team drags out the body. Sam notices it, and is compelled to get out, and ask what was going on.

“This poor man died.” Wayne quietly said to him which influenced Sam to drop what he was doing, and out of respect for the dead to go, and attend his burying. Clive pattered his feet around several spots looking for softer soil. He then pushed his foot against a relatively soft spot in the ground. That would be the spot they dig at.

“Here is where we dig! Get out your E-Tools, and dig! Keep weapons on hand in case of a threat.” Clive finished saying then sat down in guilt over killing this man.

The digging persisted for an hour with Dexter, Wayne, Mason, and Sylvia doing the digging with others on lookout. The group would stop, and go quiet every once and a while from hearing irons off in the distance. Those were surreal moments filled with calmness, chilling air, and serenity. Mason would look out into the distance listening to the screeches as those creatures went about their business. The digging persisted once again before the man was finally buried.

“Shouldn’t we say something?” asked July.

“What would we have to say July?” Joseph asked as he stood there looking at the burial.

Nobody had anything to say, and nobody there knew the man’s name. They all basically agreed that it would be better to be on their way out of there. It’s funny that a man died that day and it had nothing to do with the iron arachnids. It was human killed by another human. Zero involvement from the beasts. Who knew it still happened?

Dexter still loaded up the pack of water, and the group got all systems ready. Clive didn’t really feel like driving the Armored DB, and requested Sylvia drive instead. Mason however requested he do it. He believed he could drive it just fine despite not having much experience. He wanted to once again prove his worth. Clive reluctantly agreed but Clive was going to operate the gun. Mason before heading out took many second looks, and even fourth looks relaying the controls back to himself.

He understood the controls which he used to mentally prepare himself. He had Clive right next to him resting. Clive wasn’t tired from exhaustion but from guilt. The group began driving off farther east, and they were gaining. They had already made it halfway across the country, and were making plenty of headway.

“Don’t worry Clive. I will make sure your dream becomes a reality.” He said to the sleeping Clive.

“If that is the case then you will have to ensure my safety Mason.” Clive says as Mason is surprised to see he isn’t sleeping.

“I need to live to make sure my dream becomes a reality. Can you ensure my safety Mason?”

“I don’t think you need me to protect you sir. If anything I would say I need your protection.” Mason concurred.

Clive then laughed “I like your honesty. But I didn’t ask you if I was allowed to protect you. I asked if you would try to protect me?” Said Clive.

Mason nodded yes.

Clive smiled. “Don’t worry Mason. I promise you that you are fighting for a just cause. I will eliminate all evil from this world! All of it.”

Mason looked at Clive for a split second then looked out to pasture. He looked out to the beautiful grasslands with the darker light of dawn shining over the horizon, a horizontal beauty. There were families of irons running off in the distance. They were almost like a family unit, and everything for a moment was a beautiful sight. He then thought of Sylvia, and his future with her. He didn’t think that he and Sylvia would squabble, and fight like all his past relationships but he wasn’t really going to dwell on it.

The world outside was beautiful despite all the ugly iniquities. Mason still wishes that he had the opportunity to say goodbye to his father. He lost everything. Wayne who was also manning the gun in the other DB was looking at his lighter. He missed his brother so much.

“Hey Sam, do you have this under control without me for a second?” Wayne asked him.

“Yeah I do, why?” Wayne opened the back

“I want to get a little bit of rest. Clive will probably stop us for our sleep period anyways so no need me to stay up.” Sam nodded him off as Wayne crawled into the back.

Wayne in the back laid down in a curled up ball. He pulled out his brother’s finger, and held it to his chest. First Wayne thought of the poor man gunned down by Clive earlier. He then thought of playing in the back alleys of Cage District with his brother. How they would point out all the different creepy crawlies that they didn’t have in their own home. He began softly crying as his face wrinkled. He couldn’t help but dribble snot out of his nose as he clenched the finger real tough like a teddy bear.

“I’m so, so sorry bro!” Wayne cried as he was cradled up.

He gave off pig like squeals trying to keep quiet so Sam wouldn’t hear him even if he was listening in. the tears started hitting the floor of the vehicle. Rolling around were the tears until they’d roll into the fabric of Wayne’s clothing then get sucked up.

“Come now Wayne. It has been too long to still be crying out like this. Come on man!” Wayne thought to himself as he kicked at the wall in pain.

“I want to go home! Home to my brother!” Wayne thought to himself. Poor Wayne, because that can never happen.

All the soldiers at the peak of night are now letting their anxieties get to them. Wayne missed his brother. Sam was wishing for irons for him to kill to show up. Joseph thought of his brother as well. Sylvia kept an eye on the DB that Mason was driving. July wanted to go home but couldn’t, and Dexter was missing home, and good ol district 2 bars. Clive could almost feel everyone’s anxieties piling up. He got on the communicator

“Okay everyone. It is nap time.”

The vehicles were parked over by some cover. They were then hidden behind debris ridden buildings. Each four members from each squad slept in each Armored DB. Outside of the Armored DB around the area that they were in was the rustling of wild dogs fighting over scraps of bloody squirrel skins, and irons rustling around other buildings with their pairs of eyes glowing green brightly pacing and looking in all directions.

People crawling through the sewers like rats, while then irons rule the world above. This world is ugly, and strangely beautiful, majestic, almost royal. The world presented is nature brought back to its truest form. Simply prehistoric majesty. Mason pushed himself off the floor of the back of the Armored DB, and headed to the cockpit. He sat looking out at the desolate world. He felt a bit of envy for the dead.

“If ghosts are real.” Mason said as his mind flashed back to a picture of Emily in his mind with pale eyes of a ghost.

“Then I hope that they have true freedom outside.” He said, and hoped.

The future isn’t what he had imagined from childhood fantasy, and TV. The place that was envisioned by Mason was a world where there was housing on the moon, and flying cars. There in his vivid, and old imagination he had never imagined hundreds of thousands, probably millions of giant creatures terrorizing humankind.

Life is full of surprises Mason had thought. The door from the back slid open, and in walked July. Both Sylvia, and Clive were still sleeping in the back, with the exception that Clive wasn’t actually asleep. He had his eyes closed counting down the minutes till they would get up, and go.

“Enjoying the night air?” July asked Mason with a very quiet yet strangely energetic tone.

“Yeah.” Mason slowly replied. “But weren’t you the one outside?” Mason then said being ignored.

Mason looked over at her who was looking at him curiously. “What?” Mason said somewhat frustrated.

“You sir don’t make any sense. You are from the past, and should be more afraid of those things than someone like me, and yet you confront them head on.” July said to Mason rather disappointed with herself for still feeling fear whence in the heat of battle. She continues.

“Joseph feels the same way I do. What was it like in the past? Was it more serene, and peaceful than now?” July asked. Mason sat back in the driver’s seat, and put his hand to his scruff.

“Hmm, that is actually not as simple to say as I thought it would be. Well instead of giant monsters back then we had other things to worry about such as terrorism, and corporate conspiracies, and the possibility of evil companies trying to rob us blind. I wouldn’t say it was more peaceful, and there were all these stressful internet technologies, and they bothered me despite me being very tech savvy.”

“Savvy?” July asked.

“It means I am good with the device I mentioned. Anyway it wasn’t as simple back then so it seemed more stressful but it was less dangerous if that makes any sense.”

“I guess it does.” July replied said touching her chin thinking on it.

“How come you are fighting as a soldier all of a sudden then?” asked July as Mason turned it around before answering.

“How was it like growing up in a world like this?” he said rather snarky.

“What is it like just starting to venture out for the first few times, and what was it like while you were a kid knowing, or not knowing that your possible demise sits right outside? Huh, tell me that.”

The question bombardment from Mason left July slightly uncomfortable as she crossed her arms over her chest, and looked away.

“I don’t feel comfortable answering all that!” she said. Mason hearing that gets further pissed off.

“And you think that I feel comfortable answering all of your questions?”

The cockpit door slid open as the sun outside was beginning to rise. Mason looked back, and up as the light from outside shined in as Sylvia’s angry face could be seen as Sylvia swung her fist bloodying his nose as she ripped him from the front seat, pulling him through the back to the outside. She threw him on the ground reminding him of when he was thrown off the arms of the mechanic when they first met.

“Damn it Mason! I heard that.” Sylvia screamed at him.

“So what! Can’t she see I don’t want discuss that?” Sylvia then began shaking her head “no” to his proclamation.

“It isn’t the same, and you know it! She had harmless curiosity, and you were just responding in anger!”

Mason sat on the ground ashamed. He had been striving to be something better than he was, and he failed himself by letting his situation get the better of him. Anger… another one of those human traits that make them imperfect.

“I get it Mason. I know exactly what it is that’s wrong.” Sylvia said understanding why he was angry.

“Now I pulled you out of there because you were exerting anger that was pent up from earlier. When I had to save you from the iron, your little bout with Dexter, and your current situation as a whole. And you are letting it get to you! Please Mason just focus on the now rather than the then.” Sylvia says to him as to set him on the right path.

July then walks from the back of the Armored DB.

“It is okay.” She says to him.

“I realize that everyone has problems.” July says to him with sincerity.

Mason gives his own nod to her as a subtle set of forgiveness’s between them exchange. Dusk arrived in full, and both commanders were bright, and early. Both Clive, and Wayne have protocol ground into their mind to an extent that they had both basically been awake with their eyes closed almost an hour before they were obligated to wake up.

“Enough squabbling people.” Clive said as he exited the back of the DB as Mason, and July saluted him.

“Put your hands down, it is unnecessary, and we have been over this.” Clive said.

Sylvia just sat off to the side without even a seconds thought of salute. This struck Clive as strange. There had been a point in time that Sylvia had borne a great respect for Clive, and now it has changed into her caring a lot less. Walking out of Wayne’s Armored DB was Dexter as he pushed his palm hardly into Mason’s chest which pushed him back with Mason only reacting with a quick snarl before Dexter entered his mechanic. Mason then stops Clive who begins entering the Armored DB.

“Let me pilot it again sir!” Mason asked while bowing on the ground, head in the dirt.

“I can’t help but feel that every time you ask me if you can take the reins on something you seem like you have something to prove.” Clive says as Mason sticks like glue.

“You wouldn’t be wrong sir! Put July as the co-pilot, and watch me do the job right. I just had a bit of a fallout with her, and if I can work through with her on this then I will be crystal!” Mason screamed at him with glowing eyes of determination. Clive smiled.

“Well if you are going to fight like this with my dream in mind as the end goal, then I have no clear choice.”

Mason then felt courage flow into him. If Clive believes that he can do it, then he believes that he can go through with things too. Mason sat up front prepping the systems. He made sure the AC systems were running, and he had a fully loaded rail gun, as well as all rear view cameras operational. July next to him reloaded the main machine gun. They both nodded to each other, signaling the end to their earlier dispute.

“I will do this, and I will shine through! I will have purpose!” Mason said to himself.

Blood, guts, and a berserker like readiness for combat is leaving confidence in Mason’s head. The dirt began grinding behind Mason as he drove off westward with mechanics tracing behind him, and Wayne driving next to him. A real team of veterans now.

“How does it feel Mason?” Wayne says through direct radio communication with Mason.

Mason upon hearing takes a second to appreciate just how it feels to drive an Armored DB one of the most powerful vehicles on the planet in terms of both horse power, and weaponry. The tracks of the mechanics left behind showed it had been crushing up gristle, and dirt the whole way through. With vehicles of such stature, any mission taken on by the human forces of the planet should be fodder to them. But nonetheless the humans built up only to match their oppressors.

“It is one wicked experience Wayne, I must say!” Mason spoke with appreciation of the tech.

“Yeah Mason, there isn’t really anything like this in the whole world.” He then said calmly.

“Wayne?”

“Yeah Mason?” Wayne then asked.

“If these things are so powerful, then why not use a massive team of these to really stick it to the irons good?” Mason asked.

“That is a mighty fine question. You see Mason, these DBs are great but not the best. We often need the slick movements of the mechanics which have better turning abilities, fit into tighter spaces, and are better with hand-to-hand combat to support it. At the same time an Iron could preoccupy the front as others come from the back, and sides to tear it up.”

“Now a good pilot can get out of a scrape like I just described, but not likely every time, and you will more than likely die eventually! Plus if we just paraded through the country with a flood of Armored DBs then we would kill a lot of those things just for them to have already multiplied their numbers as we exhausted our ammunition. It would all have been a huge waste of our time, and munitions!” Wayne then concluded.

Mason thought about the setup for a brief moment. He kept all possibilities accounted for, no matter how farfetched.

“It seems like the problem is that you exhaust your resources creating, training for, and using the DBs, and mechanics as both need each other in order to function properly. So why not just take the best of both worlds?” Mason asked.

Wayne then having a magnificent outburst of laughter over the radio that gave off a popping, and crackling old radio sound from the type of stereo used communication.

“It isn’t really that simple Mason. First the funding for that project initially would be huge, and even if it would help in the long run we aren’t sure we would succeed in a DB, and mechanic hybrid. And let’s face it friend, over at Requiem we don’t really have the minds worthy of pulling it off.”

Upon hearing which from Wayne, now Mason had begun laughing.

“Are you really so blind Wayne? Unlike anyone you have had who just reskins previously thought of technology, I have been an innovator on weaponry for years.” Mason continued.

“I already have a great way to improve efficiency to the mechanics in mind. To increase their speed we need simply condense the size of the DBs engine to enable said horsepower to the DB. We then eliminate the treads from the mechanic to simultaneously eliminate traction, and ad wheels to the mechanic to make such speed possible. Lastly we enable a type of shoe that can quickly attach, and retract in order to make changing from drive to walk more effective, basically the snap of your fingers. Hell given a bit longer I could also transfer the machine pressurized jump sequence from the DB to a new model Mechanic!”