Professor Layton and the Beam Katana Chronicles
Chapter One
Layton looked through the cracked window of the abandoned building he and his accomplice were hiding, gazing forlornly across the vast, distorted wasteland, which was peppered with deep gashes weathered into the rock and stone circles built by nomads who had long since moved on. He looked down to his simple brown leather shoes, ragged from the trekking of recent months, then glanced at his trunk, which was empty but for his journal and a few crumbs.
"Travis, we have to move soon. We're completely out of food," Layton called over his shoulder. "We'll not last three days if we don't find some more provisions."
Travis Touchdown, who was lying on his back in the next room, pulled himself up eagerly. "Finally! If I don't get something to kill soon, I'll freak." he drawled, walking towards the door with his hands in his pockets.
"Travis, wait!" Layton called. "Remember, we have to be careful! They're on the lookout for us, perhaps even right now! We can't just storm out, we could be spotted!"
"Exactly!" Travis snapped. "I've been desperate to give those bastards a close-up of my beam katana for weeks now! Besides, I didn't want to go through with this half-assed plan in the first place. What was the point of leaving Santa Destroy?"
Layton sighed. "The point was to escape the system before they started experimenting on us, and then to try and bring it down." he explained for the umpteenth time.
"If we're trying to bring these douchebags down, then why the big deal about me wantin' to cut a few of their heads off?" Travis growled.
"I don't believe in violence as a method of success." said Layton, crossing his arms.
"Well, that's freedom for ya." said Travis, glaring at the London professor.
"This isn't freedom! How is hiding behind boulders so that the authorities don't see us considered freedom?" Layton exclaimed. "And keep in mind that we're in the only fifty square meters on the planet that they haven't taken over, and most of it is contaminated by radiation in some way."
"Hey, no need for the lecture. It was your idea." said Travis, raising an eyebrow.
Layton breathed deeply and tried to clear his mind. "You're right… this was my idea. What's done is done, and there's no going back. Besides, at least I'm not still stuck in London. It's completely awful there now."
"You could get some decent food there, or whatever you English have instead of food." said Travis.
"The food has been utterly dismal since the takeover, and I can honestly say I don't miss it." Layton said confidently.
"Well, it was still food." said Travis, poking his rumbling stomach.
Layton wandered back over to the window and looked out again. "Travis, it seems the day is clearing up a bit! Some good weather always works wonders for-"
"Shut up!" Travis called from the other room. "Seriously!"
Layton scowled at the doorway where the voice had just come from, then went back to staring out the window.
"Wait." Travis said to himself. "I heard something!"
A squadron of soldiers, wearing black uniforms, gas masks, badges emblazoned with a triangle with an eye inside, and brandishing oversized machine guns, had surrounded the building.
Boned.