Nathan grunted softly before wearily crawling in several small circles and laying down. He found it hard to get comfortable on the unforgiving concrete. All of the blankets and padding that had been found in the area were already in use, so he was forced to resort to imagining a soft bed in his mind from the cement. He was about to stand up again when the large door slid open just enough for a body to slip through. His keen eyes picked up Cond moving stealthily into the room. Cond slid the door shut and waited several moments in the shadows as if waiting to see if his actions had been detected.
Cond stalked around the bodies scattered on the ground until he reached someone in particular. Nathan watched as the two conversed for a few moments and stayed prone on the ground as Cond searched and conversed with another cohort. After the second conversation, Cond went to Kleer's door, knocking softly before entering. Nathan, of course, could not hear what was said inside the room but he had a feeling that it wouldn't be quite the same as what he had told the first two. Soon after, Cond emerged from the room with Kleer. They spoke a for a moment and Cond went off to one of the smaller rooms to the side where he slept.
After watching Cond leave, Kleer went to the outside door, slid it open, and moved to leave. As he slid the door shut a large paw broke through from the darkness, stopping the door from closing. Kleer took a step back as Nathan stepped out and closed the door shut. The two walked a few dozen yards away from the building before Kleer turned and started pacing back and forth. Nathan waited patiently as Kleer tried to organize his thoughts. After a few minutes, Kleer turned and walked towards another building, this one in far worse condition than the others. It's walls had been darkened and eroded from a fire that had ravaged the area decades ago. As Kleer stepped through the doorless entry way, Nathan followed.
Kleer ripped away a misshapen stack of charred lumber to reveal a surprisingly new looking motorcycle underneath. Before Nathan could ask, Kleer answered, "I stole it about a week ago. Figured if I needed to get somewhere fast it'd be useful."
Nathan nodded solemnly, "And Cond?"
Kleer smiled as he stared at the bike and nodded, "I didn't want to rely on his car either."
A sound outside of the pile of rubble they were standing in caused Kleer to stiffened. Nathan sniffed the air and crouched low to the ground, motioning for Kleer to do the same. Kleer was about to ask Nathan who it was but he shook his head quickly. He pointed to Kleer and then pointed outside the door and mouthed the word, "Go."
Kleer didn't understand what Nathan was going for and definitely did not like the idea of walking out the door into a potential ambush, but something about Nathan told him to trust him. As Kleer stood up and walked to the door, he glanced back to see if Nathan was following but just briefly caught a glimpse of Nathan running on all fours in the opposite direction. As Nathan ran, Kleer took a closer look at his hind legs. Moments ago, the had been the legs of a normal person, bending forward. Now, as he ran, the bent backwards, just like those of the wolf whose genes he obviously shared.
He shook his head and stepped out into the open making, sure his footsteps were heavy enough for even the dimmest stalker to find him. As he walked back towards the warehouse, he had the distinct feeling that he was being watched. As he turned around he spotted Cond standing directly behind him with a smirk on his face. The two just stared at each other for a few moments, as if waiting for the other to initiate whatever was about to happen.
"Going........ somewhere?" Cond asked rhetorically.
"Not right now. Why do you care?" Kleer asked as he pushed his feet harder into the ground to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
Cond slowly paced a circle around Kleer but kept himself at the same distance. "You see...... Kleer...... very simple........" Cond started in a menacing hiss, "those in there......... they believe you......... You leave........ they not stay........."
Kleer shrugged, "Maybe they're better off if they don't stay in one spot."
"Now I know........ you don't really...... believe that."
"You plan on making me stay Cond?"
Cond smiled devilishly as he shook his head, "Not fair......... I can't....... but they can." As he finished his sentence several transgenics stepped from the shadows of the surrounding buildings and into the moonlight. "Now fair," Cond added before pointing at Kleer and motioning to the others, "play nice."
Kleer stepped in a quick circle and found four of the people that Cond had been spending most of his time with. Two were rather normal looking anomalies while the other two had traits that Kleer couldn't even begin to guess at. He stepped slowly into the center allowing the four of them to surround him when he noticed that the two normal looking ones were carrying heavy lead pipes. Kleer sighed heavily when he heard the familiar sound of a long piece of metal sliding against another solid material. A smile played on Kleer's features as his Viking sword spun through the air and imbedded itself at his side.
Kleer found his confidence returning as he pulled the blade from the ground. He scratched a circle around him just within the reach of the blade. To Kleer, this was now a battle of honor and as such was sacred. He had learned of that honor while in the dungeons of Manticore with Joshua before Renfro had found him. It was Joshua who had taught him of Sandman and had given him the blade that he had made himself.
The two anomalies of unknown descent were the first to dash in but a quick swipe of Kleer's blade sent them back, as they sought an opportunity to attack around the blade. One of the normal anomalies, who Kleer quickly categorized as Baldy, leapt forward but Kleer swept the pipe away with an almost surreal grin. The other pipe-wielder, now classified as Lead, tried swinging at Kleer from behind. Kleer dropped to his knees and slid his blade down his back. The pipe slammed into the blade and sent Kleer rolling forward. Kleer leapt up from the ground and sent a slash at Baldy who blocked with his pipe.
Kleer leapt back and spun his sword effortlessly as he stared at Baldy and Lead. From the corner of his eye he kept watch on the two who were cautiously waiting for an opportunity to attach. Kleer waited for the two to circle close to each other before he leapt into them with a rolling dive. He shot up quickly and swung at Lead but was blocked aside. Missing that mark, he spun his blade around with intense speed, grazing Baldy's throat as he simultaneously crouched down, knocking Lead's legs out from under him. Kleer instantly drove into Baldy as the two slammed blade against pipe, causing sparks to flash into the night sky.
Kleer was too busy with Baldy, that he failed to notice as the other two anomalies came up from behind him. They were nearly at his back when a voice roared from the darkness, "Behind you!" Kleer jumped up, using Baldy's shoulders as stepping stones to flip over the other two coming from behind; carving his blade down their backs. One of them fell down whimpering while the other hit the ground and crawled away in a panic. Baldy and Lead roared in fury and charged. Kleer took his blade, tossed it to them, and they threw their pipes instinctively up to block it. Kleer was a blur as he rushed under their arms; he elbowed Baldy in the gut and punched Lead just before his blade fell into his grasp. He delivered three slashes to their mid sections and both fell to the ground rolling in pain.
Kleer's shoulders heaved as his labored breathing finally escaped in ragged gasps. He turned to the remaining anomaly who was shivering in fear on the ground. The lone creature recoiled in horror, shivering on the ground as Kleer stood above him. A partial moon cast his features in total darkness and all the twisted anomaly could see was the deep darkness of his eyes. Kleer raised his blade above his head, the blade shimmering softly in the moonlight. The figure on the ground gave a gasp of fear and fainted with a thud on the ground.
Kleer let the sword spin around so he was holding the handle and the blade rested behind his arm. He turned slowly to Cond who still stood with a smile on his face. Kleer stalked towards Cond, his lips parted just slightly showing a pair of sharp, glistening canines. Cond didn't move as Kleer began moving faster. With a short run, Kleer let out a howl as he neared Cond who still smiled placidly. At the last moment Cond dropped onto his haunches and sprung out into Kleer. The two collided in midair and collapsed to the ground.
In a jumble of fists and kicks a glistening piece of metal flashed through the night. The two were barely sane as they tumbled around the ground biting and kicking, when they both suddenly stopped. They were surrounded by over fifty transgenics who had, until just recently, been sleeping in the warehouse. A few anomalies picked up Cond and pulled him away as Nathan did the same to Kleer.
Cond immediately saw the potential of the situation and shouted out, "Stop him! He attacked them!" as he motioned to the four anomalies writhing on the ground.
Most of the transgenics were shocked by Cond's accusations, but they doubted Kleer would cause such damage. One person covered in dark ragged fur stepped forward from the crowd and quickly assessed the situation before calling out, "Peace! We will arrive at the answers." She stepped to Kleer who had his head bowed as he knelt with Nathan supporting him from behind. "Did you attack these men?"
Nathan was quick to respond, "No. Not Kleer."
Kleer shook his head, "Stop. Yes, I did."
An audible gasp arose from the onlookers as the peacekeeper continued, "Then I don't see any other choice. Kleer, you shall be-"
"NO!" Nathan roared out in a voice that sent a shiver through all present. "Self defense. I saw. Cond attacked Kleer."
"Is this true?" the peacekeeper asked to Kleer.
"Yes, but....." Kleer trailed off as if searching for something that he couldn't quite grasp.
The peacekeeper, Tyr, scratched at her ear before speaking, "If this was self defense, then why didn't you say so?"
Kleer looked up at Tyr and sighed, "They did not deserve this. They were innocent."
"They assaulted you and you have this to say?" Tyr asked incredulously.
"Compassion must be had for all."
Tyr shook her head sadly, "Sometimes you are blinded by your faith Kleer. Not everyone here is as good as you think they are."
Kleer shook his head, "That's not it." It sounded as if he was about to continue but instead he stopped there.
Tyr approached Cond with the slightest hint of apprehension. She spoke with a whisper of a threat, "This will not be tolerated Cond. I've never trusted you and it brings me great pleasure to banish you from our alliance. You will never return among us." She turned to two transgenics, "Take him away from here." She then spoke up, "If any of you wish to follow this disgrace then do so now." She watched in disgust as seven others joined the four who had attacked Kleer and left with Cond, who left quietly, a small smile on his face.
Tyr turned to Kleer with a look of sadness on her face, "It saddens me to say but this rule applies to you too, Kleer. You may never again join us. An attack on one of us, even those who are traitors, will not be tolerated. Perhaps, in time, this decision may change, but only because of your faithful service in the past and that you committed this act in self defense."
Kleer stood up slowly, his ashen face turned to apathetic stone. He knew that it was his rules that Tyr was forcing him to follow and he felt great despair for having to leave. A tinge of pride filled him as well in the small consolation that it was he who had taught Tyr to follow their creed of alliance. It was he who had taught Tyr to speak nearly fifteen years ago when he had found her after Joshua had freed him from his cell. She had been a scared little girl trying to deal with her abandonment and her feline DNA. Now, at this moment, he felt like a father watching his daughter achieve her potential.
Kleer turned around and walked away, trying not to let his sadness show. Tyr kept her back to the onlookers as she wiped at the tears welling in her eyes. She told herself to be strong as she watched several others follow after Kleer before turning to the forty or so still remaining. She raised her voice but couldn't stop it from cracking, "Everyone inside. We don't want to be caught out here."
Cond stalked around the bodies scattered on the ground until he reached someone in particular. Nathan watched as the two conversed for a few moments and stayed prone on the ground as Cond searched and conversed with another cohort. After the second conversation, Cond went to Kleer's door, knocking softly before entering. Nathan, of course, could not hear what was said inside the room but he had a feeling that it wouldn't be quite the same as what he had told the first two. Soon after, Cond emerged from the room with Kleer. They spoke a for a moment and Cond went off to one of the smaller rooms to the side where he slept.
After watching Cond leave, Kleer went to the outside door, slid it open, and moved to leave. As he slid the door shut a large paw broke through from the darkness, stopping the door from closing. Kleer took a step back as Nathan stepped out and closed the door shut. The two walked a few dozen yards away from the building before Kleer turned and started pacing back and forth. Nathan waited patiently as Kleer tried to organize his thoughts. After a few minutes, Kleer turned and walked towards another building, this one in far worse condition than the others. It's walls had been darkened and eroded from a fire that had ravaged the area decades ago. As Kleer stepped through the doorless entry way, Nathan followed.
Kleer ripped away a misshapen stack of charred lumber to reveal a surprisingly new looking motorcycle underneath. Before Nathan could ask, Kleer answered, "I stole it about a week ago. Figured if I needed to get somewhere fast it'd be useful."
Nathan nodded solemnly, "And Cond?"
Kleer smiled as he stared at the bike and nodded, "I didn't want to rely on his car either."
A sound outside of the pile of rubble they were standing in caused Kleer to stiffened. Nathan sniffed the air and crouched low to the ground, motioning for Kleer to do the same. Kleer was about to ask Nathan who it was but he shook his head quickly. He pointed to Kleer and then pointed outside the door and mouthed the word, "Go."
Kleer didn't understand what Nathan was going for and definitely did not like the idea of walking out the door into a potential ambush, but something about Nathan told him to trust him. As Kleer stood up and walked to the door, he glanced back to see if Nathan was following but just briefly caught a glimpse of Nathan running on all fours in the opposite direction. As Nathan ran, Kleer took a closer look at his hind legs. Moments ago, the had been the legs of a normal person, bending forward. Now, as he ran, the bent backwards, just like those of the wolf whose genes he obviously shared.
He shook his head and stepped out into the open making, sure his footsteps were heavy enough for even the dimmest stalker to find him. As he walked back towards the warehouse, he had the distinct feeling that he was being watched. As he turned around he spotted Cond standing directly behind him with a smirk on his face. The two just stared at each other for a few moments, as if waiting for the other to initiate whatever was about to happen.
"Going........ somewhere?" Cond asked rhetorically.
"Not right now. Why do you care?" Kleer asked as he pushed his feet harder into the ground to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
Cond slowly paced a circle around Kleer but kept himself at the same distance. "You see...... Kleer...... very simple........" Cond started in a menacing hiss, "those in there......... they believe you......... You leave........ they not stay........."
Kleer shrugged, "Maybe they're better off if they don't stay in one spot."
"Now I know........ you don't really...... believe that."
"You plan on making me stay Cond?"
Cond smiled devilishly as he shook his head, "Not fair......... I can't....... but they can." As he finished his sentence several transgenics stepped from the shadows of the surrounding buildings and into the moonlight. "Now fair," Cond added before pointing at Kleer and motioning to the others, "play nice."
Kleer stepped in a quick circle and found four of the people that Cond had been spending most of his time with. Two were rather normal looking anomalies while the other two had traits that Kleer couldn't even begin to guess at. He stepped slowly into the center allowing the four of them to surround him when he noticed that the two normal looking ones were carrying heavy lead pipes. Kleer sighed heavily when he heard the familiar sound of a long piece of metal sliding against another solid material. A smile played on Kleer's features as his Viking sword spun through the air and imbedded itself at his side.
Kleer found his confidence returning as he pulled the blade from the ground. He scratched a circle around him just within the reach of the blade. To Kleer, this was now a battle of honor and as such was sacred. He had learned of that honor while in the dungeons of Manticore with Joshua before Renfro had found him. It was Joshua who had taught him of Sandman and had given him the blade that he had made himself.
The two anomalies of unknown descent were the first to dash in but a quick swipe of Kleer's blade sent them back, as they sought an opportunity to attack around the blade. One of the normal anomalies, who Kleer quickly categorized as Baldy, leapt forward but Kleer swept the pipe away with an almost surreal grin. The other pipe-wielder, now classified as Lead, tried swinging at Kleer from behind. Kleer dropped to his knees and slid his blade down his back. The pipe slammed into the blade and sent Kleer rolling forward. Kleer leapt up from the ground and sent a slash at Baldy who blocked with his pipe.
Kleer leapt back and spun his sword effortlessly as he stared at Baldy and Lead. From the corner of his eye he kept watch on the two who were cautiously waiting for an opportunity to attach. Kleer waited for the two to circle close to each other before he leapt into them with a rolling dive. He shot up quickly and swung at Lead but was blocked aside. Missing that mark, he spun his blade around with intense speed, grazing Baldy's throat as he simultaneously crouched down, knocking Lead's legs out from under him. Kleer instantly drove into Baldy as the two slammed blade against pipe, causing sparks to flash into the night sky.
Kleer was too busy with Baldy, that he failed to notice as the other two anomalies came up from behind him. They were nearly at his back when a voice roared from the darkness, "Behind you!" Kleer jumped up, using Baldy's shoulders as stepping stones to flip over the other two coming from behind; carving his blade down their backs. One of them fell down whimpering while the other hit the ground and crawled away in a panic. Baldy and Lead roared in fury and charged. Kleer took his blade, tossed it to them, and they threw their pipes instinctively up to block it. Kleer was a blur as he rushed under their arms; he elbowed Baldy in the gut and punched Lead just before his blade fell into his grasp. He delivered three slashes to their mid sections and both fell to the ground rolling in pain.
Kleer's shoulders heaved as his labored breathing finally escaped in ragged gasps. He turned to the remaining anomaly who was shivering in fear on the ground. The lone creature recoiled in horror, shivering on the ground as Kleer stood above him. A partial moon cast his features in total darkness and all the twisted anomaly could see was the deep darkness of his eyes. Kleer raised his blade above his head, the blade shimmering softly in the moonlight. The figure on the ground gave a gasp of fear and fainted with a thud on the ground.
Kleer let the sword spin around so he was holding the handle and the blade rested behind his arm. He turned slowly to Cond who still stood with a smile on his face. Kleer stalked towards Cond, his lips parted just slightly showing a pair of sharp, glistening canines. Cond didn't move as Kleer began moving faster. With a short run, Kleer let out a howl as he neared Cond who still smiled placidly. At the last moment Cond dropped onto his haunches and sprung out into Kleer. The two collided in midair and collapsed to the ground.
In a jumble of fists and kicks a glistening piece of metal flashed through the night. The two were barely sane as they tumbled around the ground biting and kicking, when they both suddenly stopped. They were surrounded by over fifty transgenics who had, until just recently, been sleeping in the warehouse. A few anomalies picked up Cond and pulled him away as Nathan did the same to Kleer.
Cond immediately saw the potential of the situation and shouted out, "Stop him! He attacked them!" as he motioned to the four anomalies writhing on the ground.
Most of the transgenics were shocked by Cond's accusations, but they doubted Kleer would cause such damage. One person covered in dark ragged fur stepped forward from the crowd and quickly assessed the situation before calling out, "Peace! We will arrive at the answers." She stepped to Kleer who had his head bowed as he knelt with Nathan supporting him from behind. "Did you attack these men?"
Nathan was quick to respond, "No. Not Kleer."
Kleer shook his head, "Stop. Yes, I did."
An audible gasp arose from the onlookers as the peacekeeper continued, "Then I don't see any other choice. Kleer, you shall be-"
"NO!" Nathan roared out in a voice that sent a shiver through all present. "Self defense. I saw. Cond attacked Kleer."
"Is this true?" the peacekeeper asked to Kleer.
"Yes, but....." Kleer trailed off as if searching for something that he couldn't quite grasp.
The peacekeeper, Tyr, scratched at her ear before speaking, "If this was self defense, then why didn't you say so?"
Kleer looked up at Tyr and sighed, "They did not deserve this. They were innocent."
"They assaulted you and you have this to say?" Tyr asked incredulously.
"Compassion must be had for all."
Tyr shook her head sadly, "Sometimes you are blinded by your faith Kleer. Not everyone here is as good as you think they are."
Kleer shook his head, "That's not it." It sounded as if he was about to continue but instead he stopped there.
Tyr approached Cond with the slightest hint of apprehension. She spoke with a whisper of a threat, "This will not be tolerated Cond. I've never trusted you and it brings me great pleasure to banish you from our alliance. You will never return among us." She turned to two transgenics, "Take him away from here." She then spoke up, "If any of you wish to follow this disgrace then do so now." She watched in disgust as seven others joined the four who had attacked Kleer and left with Cond, who left quietly, a small smile on his face.
Tyr turned to Kleer with a look of sadness on her face, "It saddens me to say but this rule applies to you too, Kleer. You may never again join us. An attack on one of us, even those who are traitors, will not be tolerated. Perhaps, in time, this decision may change, but only because of your faithful service in the past and that you committed this act in self defense."
Kleer stood up slowly, his ashen face turned to apathetic stone. He knew that it was his rules that Tyr was forcing him to follow and he felt great despair for having to leave. A tinge of pride filled him as well in the small consolation that it was he who had taught Tyr to follow their creed of alliance. It was he who had taught Tyr to speak nearly fifteen years ago when he had found her after Joshua had freed him from his cell. She had been a scared little girl trying to deal with her abandonment and her feline DNA. Now, at this moment, he felt like a father watching his daughter achieve her potential.
Kleer turned around and walked away, trying not to let his sadness show. Tyr kept her back to the onlookers as she wiped at the tears welling in her eyes. She told herself to be strong as she watched several others follow after Kleer before turning to the forty or so still remaining. She raised her voice but couldn't stop it from cracking, "Everyone inside. We don't want to be caught out here."
