Wastes, upon wastes now cover the Earth or what's left of it after the Fall no real landscapes remained intact all that was left was deserts, canyons and just death the amount of chemicals the Fall had left made the world a microwave with baking heat being a normal. Water was a commodity for the people who managed to make homes, a rare currency with money being of no use everything was done in trades or favors. Bandit's would lay ambushes for unsuspecting travelers along the trails left by caravans, but our story takes us to a different place then the wastes a ventilated shelter or what would've seemed like a shelter to a random passerby. No this was a place of horrors unspeakable nightmarish things lurked and everyone has a secret...

A teal haired woman ran through corridor upon corridor everything was white doors no windows she noticed. Hearing the people behind yelling to catch her she quickly hid behind a quick corner waiting for her followers to get ahead of her I'm safe for now, but where am I? She thought to herself No focus on escape this is your big moment Miku! Miku the only thing she could remember but that wasn't important now, not how she got here or what "here" was. Retracing her steps to a nearby emergency exit she noticed she opened the door to reveal an elevator. her lucky break no camera's either pressing a button that said top floor she waited listening to the whir of the gears

The door opened to reveal a small staircase with no option of going back she went up the staircase pushed a small button on the wall and above her the roof slid open the stair case ended where the roof had opened before a bright light and a heatwave hit Miku she opened her eyes to see dust alot of it.
"Well I guess I should just start walking" She said praying to god or something that she survived. For what seemed like hours she finally came across a large mountain or what seemed to be a mountain a small cave was at the bottom Finally I can rest... She sighed internally, she was exhausted furling up on a cave wall she passed out.

"well isn't she a pretty one?" A male voice said "Yes very pretty indeed..."
"Sir we really should just go, you know what you get like when you're around women..." Another man sighed
"Shut up! I can do what I want. Know your place" The first man hissed unaware that Miku was awake and listening to them She opened her eyes screamed shocking the men then ran as fast as she could through the cave. After all the running she did the day before her new found energy made it seem easy
"Well don't just sit there catch her!" The first man yelled chasing after Miku, she was running uphill alot maybe should would reach the peak she thought to herself. Seeing the same familer scene she saw at the elevator she knew she was no longer in the cave but what she didn't expect was to find a shack not knowing what else to do she banged on it
"Help! Anyone in there?" she yelled hoping to get a response turning around the men had caught up with her the first one had a creepy.. rapey look in his eye
"Why did you make us chase you we just wanted to help?" The first man said smiling wickedly
I'm sorry the second man mouthed before turning back to a steely gaze as the door to the shack opened
"Alright what's going on here..." A blond man said yawning "Oh why hello, welcome to my humble abode" looking at the scene before him he knew something was wrong
"Oh thank you, I don't know what these men are planning but they won't leave me alone.." Miku said grabbing the blond man's shirt if you could call it a shirt ripped sleeveless top covered in dirt compared to his pants which were just cargo pants ripped into shorts he looked like a bum compared to her he couldn't have been more than 20 at best.
"Nothing to see here sir just go back inside your shack.." The first man said "we were just "helping" this poor girl she seemed to be lost"
Miku was disgusted by the laugh he gave at the end
The blond man looked around again "well if she doesn't want to go with you then leave her alone." He said simply
"Do you realize who you are talking to?" The second man said angrily at his lack of respect
"Should I?" He responded sighed
"This is a high ranking member of the Rippers" The second man said pointing to his partner
"Ah yes the Rippers... Fearsome bunch with a very un-original name." Blond sarcastically said "Now do you know who I am?"
"Only one man lives secluded as you do... Oak..." The first man said "A hand for hire anything you need you can do.."
"Exactly now that we have introductions settled I suggest you leave" Oak said "Before things get ugly.."
The second man laughed "How about no!" He said throwing a fist at Oak a loud crack sound came and before anyone said Oak pulled out a long stick that was well... Made of oak and had cracked it against his hand
"Wrong move." Oak said smashing the stick against his ribcage before tripping him then kicking him off the side of the mountain his screams could be heard for a while before they eventually stopped

"Whoops did I do that?" Oak said looking over the edge "Next.." He turned facing the first man who had a gun pointed at him
"See this? It's a gun not everyone has these so now you can hand the girl over and live, or not and die and I'll take her anyways"
Oak knew he couldn't move cause this strange girl was behind him and was likely to get hit in the crossfire grabbing his stick by the end he quickly gave a firm pull bring out a sword from the stick which had simply been a sheath he swung quickly at his opponent but not before he fire a shot hitting him right in his left arm.
Miku watched as the man grabbed his arm which was now lacking an hand and screamed blood curdling screams as he wretched around in pain
"Hey! Whatever you weird rapist wanted with this girl you can fuck off, I choose to stay up here for the soul purpose of peace and quiet I don't need some shit like this." Oak said annoyed "Now I left you one hand so you can pleasure yourself in others way. Be thankful you pathetic little person"
The first man got up and ran "You're going to pay!" He said leaving.

"Sorry for the trouble Mr... Oak?" Miku said bowing while he bandaged his arm "Uh can I see your arm?"
"Hmm sure.." He said showing her the wound she laced her fingers over it and the pain seemed to numb before the wound just went away all together
"What ARE you..." He asked in amazing
"I really don't know... I lost alot of my memories for some reason but my name is Miku, I just felt compelled to do that.." Miku said
"well I guess that doesn't matter, and you can call me Len." Len said "Oak is just what strangers know me as."
She nodded "Thank you again Len.."
"It's alright, I'm assuming you don't have a place to stay?" Len asked with Miku shake of her head he just continued "Then you can stay here. I don't have another bed but I can sleep on the floor it's fine"
"I couldn't possibly take your bed." Miku denied
"Hey, My place my rules you get the bed deal with it." Len said "Here eat this." He tossed her a red orb
"What is it?" Miku asked taking a bit
"An apple?... Man you really don't know anything, do you know about the Fall?" Len asked
"This is great!" Miku said completely amazed at the food "But yes the Fall.. that's something no person can forget"
"Sure was... but let's not get into any depression ok I'm going to go out for a stroll you can relax here make yourself at home" Len said leaving

Who is this girl... Len thought to himself What was that thing she did to my arm... sure it feels fine but a normal person can't just make a wound disappear hell she didn't even remove the bullet! After walking along this normal route he heard a call from his radio
"This is a missing persons report" The voice sounded familiar.. It was Dell one of the Leaders in the three main cities "If ANYONE has information or has the location of a young 19 year old girl with long teal hair and a pale complexion, bring her to me at the trading city of Arcus and you'll be rewarded with whatever you can dream of."
Anything I can dream of huh? Len thought to himself Not a bad idea

Len was heading back to when she heard singing coming from his place, it was Miku, Len waited outside for her to stop admiring it all and when she was finally finished he walked in.
"that was beautiful" He said shocking her
"Ah! You heard all that, How embarrassing" She said blushing
"Embarrassing? There was nothing wrong about that it was great." Len said smiling "Where did you learn to sing like that?"
"I don't know remember..." She sighed
"Ah yea.. my bad" Len said when reality set back in "Anyways I think I know something that might help you regain your memories"
"Really?" She beamed he hated lying to her but he'd only met her for a couple hours
"Yea do you wanna head there right away?" Len asked
"Actually I wouldn't mind staying here for a bit." She said before quickly shoving her hands to her face "If it's ok with you though?"
"No problem we'll leave in a couple days then." Len laughed "Hey? You thirsty?
Miku nodded "Yea do you have any water?"
Len frowned "Well normally I would let you drink the stuff most people have which is some really bad milk, but I can make an exception" He smirked tossing her a water bottle
"Thanks!" Miku said chugging it all
"Jeez you are thirsty..." Len sighed "You coulda savored it."
"Why it's just water?" Miku said
Len "Yeaaa, no ever since the fall water has either been to contaminated or just wiped out all together"
"Ohhh..." Miku trailed off "I see.."
"No matter I have some more anyways so for now relax, I have a board game?" Len said motioning to a cupboard
"Wait what really!?" Miku said excited to see something fun for once instead of needles poking into her and daily exams
"You really are childlike huh?" Len sighed shaking his head "When you do what I do, people repay you and luckily I haven't brought this to the children yet." Pulling out a box labeled Connect Four he started setting it up "So how this works is well... you connect four doesn't matter how diagonal horizontal vertical as long as it's four in a row"
"I understand, Let's play!" She said placing hers first
"well at least you know to go for the middle first..." Len noticed
"Well it's common sense you want to be able to get four in in a row the fastest the best way is the middle" Miku said sticking her tongue out
"Yea well let's continue."
"You mentioned kids before?" She asked looking at his face "Where are they?"
Len looked up from the game "Yea they stay with my sister and cousin's in Xyo.."
"Xyo?" Miku asked
"Ah yes there are some little settlements around this burned wreck of a place but the best ones are, Arcus the trading central located near the ocean, Haven't been there myself actually. It's run by Dell mostly knew him before the Fall was a good trustworthy guy. Xyo is my hometown before it was Xyo it's the weakest out of the three but hey, It's home. My older Cousin LI is the leader but they have a circle that they all pitch Ideas" Len explained
"Are you apart of that circle?" Miku asked her teal hair all loose around her.
"Sadly me and Li had a well... Dispute you could say.." Len said coldly
"what happened?" Miku asked "if it's to much you don't have to tell me..."
"Oh no it's not that bad he just didn't like the fact that I killed a major supplier to them." Len stated
"wait why did you kill him!?" Miku said astonished
"He would come into the bars get drunk and beat around the women, one time it happened to be Rin" Len went on "I wasn't just going to stand idly by while he beat my kid sister around. Li managed to convince me that he changed so I tailed the guy and I found him again beating a women NOT drunk killed him right there. That's mainly why Xyo is the worst out of the three."
"Sounds horrible..." Miku said disgusted with memories of the men Len had disposed of this morning
"So they all put it to a vote that I should be kicked outta Xyo, Rin however knows when I stop by the same spot at the exact same time every week so I stop by and drop off supplies to the kids games and toys are hard to come by so when people ask for my help I generally don't charge much but I always imply toys." Len said smirking
"How sweet." Miku giggled "Oh and connect four"
"Huh wait what!" Len said staring at the board game "Dammit. oh right yea and the last city, well to be honest I don't know much about it no one besides it's residents do... they seem to supply people and towns with no real explanation.."
"Oooh a mystery city I like it" Miku said excited
Len stood up "alright I'm heading to the floor and you should sleep as well, night Miku" Len said smiling
"Night Len." Miku returned the gesture "and Len... thanks"
"No problem"

~Well I hope you all liked the first chapter this is well my first Vocaloid fanfic so reviews criticism and all is much welcomed as long as I know people will enjoy reading this I'll continue~