Water dripped down from the rooftop of the abandoned house, waking up the boy sleeping in the corner. He slowly moved to the window to look down the street. The street was empty, rotting houses lined up alongside each other all abandoned. An Orian patrol car was off in the distance, slowly rolling away. The drizzling rain started to pick up as the boy left the house.
He moved through the backyards of the houses to avoid being seen by any car from the street. Getting caught was the scariest part of being an orphan here in Old Pallet. Most orphans come from families that spoke out against the Orian empire and were forcibly taken away by the police force. No one knew where they would go once detained, but the rumor was hard labor for all dissenters and their families.
The citizens of Old Pallet were kind to these orphans, the baker had left out two day old bread for the boy to eat. The boy then looked behind the ally to find himself someone's old clothes that he could change into, since his current clothes were ripped and smelling of something foul. He went to the sea to grab a quick bath before returning back to his neighborhood. 1st
The key to survival was to change up the house in which you sleep every night to avoid night raids. The boy went to a different part of the abandoned neighborhood, more towards the east side of Old Pallet. An abandoned factory caught his eye, and he walked into the dark warehouse.
Suddenly, the boy was grabbed from behind. An arm came around his neck and a hand came around his mouth, swallowing any sound he would have made. An older man stepped into the light with another boy around his age by his side.
"Who do we have here? A government spy?" The old man was limping towards him now, an evil grin on his face and his eyes examining him up and down. "No, you have the look in your eyes of someone who sleeps in these houses around here."
The grip around the boys neck eased up and with the hand sliding down, he was able to get off some words. "Who are you guys?" While his neck and mouth were freed, the hands went down to his shoulders with force. The boy felt like he was going to be planted in the ground if his knees gave out in the slightest.
"Now if I came out and said my name to anyone who asked, I wouldn't be in this profession. But I'm curious about you. Tell me your story, and I might tell you mine." The old man stared intently at the boy. The young man by his side was squirming impatiently, but the old man calmed him down with a simple hand on his shoulder. 2nd
"Not much entertainment in my story sir. I use to live in the northwestern neighborhood with my parents like a normal kid. My dad went into the abandoned district and helped a few kids living there and got caught. My mom packed me away with everything we had left and sent me to the northern path to stay there for a week. And it's been a year and a half later"
The old man looked intrigued at him now. "Tell you what son, I can always use more man power in my organization. If you do join me, I'll help you get your parents back and give those Orians what for. You just stick around with me and my grandson." He moved his grandson in front of him. "He is referred to as Code Blue. I'll call you Code Red, should fit nicely."
Blue snickered, "Grandpa you know I can do the task for the FLF without this orphan."
Red began to shake. The FLF was the notorious terrorist organization that has expanded through violence against the Orian empire, the Medelline, and as of recent, the population at large. They were dangerous rebels and ruthless murderers.
"Nonsense, our new member managed to live a year in a half in a wanted zone. More than resourceful enough. He will be your partner Blue." The old man motioned everyone to follow him as he walked towards the back of the warehouse. "Your first task is to get the required papers from my contact in Vermillion. Bring those back to me and you will be full soldiers in our army. To help you out, I'll give you both a unique weapon of your choosing. Red, which one of these would you like."3rd
On a table behind him were three weapons. A twin firing mechanism with what appeared like a small rope attached to the back. The middle weapon was a small pistol sized flamethrower that seemed like there was plenty of space to upgrade it. The final weapon was a shield with two empty holes at the end.
Red gravitated towards the small flamethrower, something about it called to him. As soon as he picked it up, Blue slid the shield onto his right arm. The old man took the final weapon off the table and handed it to the man standing behind Red. He walked behind the table, place both hands on it, and looked at the two boys.
"To the north, in the old capital of Kanto, my contact will be waiting. He works at the Celadon market chain. Bring him this envelope and he will give you a package in return. Bring it here and you will officially join the Fioren Liberation Front and fight to bring back the five kingdoms. Now go." The old man turned and walked out followed by his assistant.
After both of them were gone, Red turned and began to walk out of the warehouse. Blue slammed the door and stepped up to Red. "I don't care what he says or thinks, you aren't up to this orphan boy. And I will prove it."
Blue swung at him with his right arm. Red jumped back and lit the fire on the front of his flamethrower. Before he could aim it at Blue, he was thrown back from a powerful stream of water. Blue was standing, his right arm outstretched. The shield on his arm was dripping water, and a grin on Blue's face.
"The best weapon on the desk, and you went for the impossible to work flamethrower." Blue was gloating now. "The best you could do for us is a distraction during a raid. But I'll make sure you don't even get that far."
Blue aimed and fired again, missing to Red's right side. Red managed to hide the fact that his flame had not gone out and so released a large fireball towards Blue. But Red didn't look and see the damage done by the fireball. He had sprinted towards the door and left. He darted two blocks west and then turned north. Red quickly turned to see no one following.
The sun was setting that day and the police would soon be out on the streets. Red had to get out of Old Pallet before night. 4th
