Intro:

The year is 2055 the world has headed into a cybernetic world. Most humans have begun to cybernetically fuse their body with machines for practical and impractical reasons. Many augmentations exist in this world ranging from weapon mods to appearance changing mods and anything in between. Due to this many people have legally and illegally required these mods Due to the government which is secretly run by giant corporations being restrictive on such mods that they deem to be dangerous to peacekeeping. They also stress that too many cyberwares will induce insanity in the human mind, corrupting them and creating mindless husks or intense killing machines. Most people tend to believe this to be lies spread to keep people from chroming up more then they want them too. In reality it is truth but every instance of such insanity that has happened has been discreetly covered up due to powerful military personnel using individuals with high cyber resistances as test subjects to create powerful warriors to destroy their rivals. This is a world teetered on a edge of normal and a dystopia one that is quickly spiraling towards the latter as people grow more accustomed to the social gaps between the rich and the poor and the disregard people have for one another unless money or power are attained.

Chapter 1

The sky was dark as the sun sank low in the sky, the moon was covered and hidden in clouds as the air grew crisp and chill. A scent of rain whifting through the air as the low rumble of a motor echoed in the empty plains as a singular car followed a singular road If one could call it that it. The road was covered in pot holes and cracks that threatened to damage the car if not taken carefully. "I swear the road gets worse and worse every day." An annoyed yet soft voice mused interrupting the silence in the car. The owner of the voice straightened up at the wheel, their eyes glowing a bright blue as they watched the deteriorating road. They were petite and young women with short brown hair but the sides were long to layer their face kinda like fridge but short in the back leaving their neck exposed. Their eyes were definitely cybernetically enhanced, shining an icy blue that seemed to light up their face which sported a cute small face with a small nose that fit their face perfectly. She wore a light red midriff jacket with short sleeves and a black midriff tank top underneath leaving her stomach exposed to show lines that ran up her figure showing that there was some chrome on her torso. She wore long black skin tight leggings that ran down tucking into long black boots. Her face scrunched up as her mouth curled in a grimace as if the road was giving her more trouble then what she expected.

Beside her in the passenger seat sat a boy with long black hair that ran down onto his face. He looked bored and uninterested as he stared out across the empty plains, his eyes a deep dark red piercing the darkness as he stared. He was tall but slim with a black shirt that hugged his body showing a bit of muscle under it he tapped his finger on his leg as his palm lift to tap it showed red padding on his palm a augmentation to help allow him with equipping and handling machinery, heavy impacts, recoil and increasing strength in his hands. He wore black jeans that stretched down to a pair of black sneakers. "Honestly sis I don't understand why we're out here let's just go back to the city I'm hungry and I'm bored we've been driving forever." He complained without removing his gaze from the window. "You know we can't. We need to complete the drop off for rent or they're going to throw us out." Wes sighed loudly as he retreated back into silence. It had been 3 years since they had lost their mom Wes was 13 then and his sister Lilli was 17. Their dad disappeared when he was 6 leaving and never being heard from again this left Lilli to fend for the both of them. She quickly dropped out of school to try to support them though he didn't think she minded that she was always in trouble for something when she went. She began taking on jobs from what Wes would consider less then legit sources normally doing drops and other various deliveries for what he didn't know and he didn't ask it was rare for him to be brought along on one and he jumped at the chance to see what she was up to but now nearly a hour later out in the middle of nowhere he was beginning to regret this decision. His stomach growled loudly as he groaned again at this. "I promise we will get food soon." Lilli mused as she continued down the road. "When before or after I starve down to my chrome?" He retorted as he closed his eyes. He knew he should be easier on her after all she worked hard to support him and lord knew she didn't have too anymore in this world she could have dropped and ran and never looked back leaving him to fend for himself. He sighed quietly to himself as he turned to look at her. She was focused on the road as her eyes dimmed to a pale orange. "Who are you calling?" He questioned her eyes, a dead give away that she was holding a phone call in her head. "Supplier." She replied short and sweet as usual whenever he approached any question on her work or what she did. She was always so secretive when it came to who she was working for or what jobs she was doing. "Can you at least tell me where we're going and what we're taking?" His curiosity was starting to eat at him. "Nothing for you to worry about Wes just thought it would be nice to get out of the city and spend some time together. You know we don't get to do that much anymore, not since…" she trailed off much like she always did when the topic strayed close to their mother. Wes understood she and her were always much closer then he was with their mother. That wasn't to say he didn't miss her just that he processed it differently. Besides, the world was cruel anymore. It was strange to have both parents nowadays and was not uncommon to have none. "Hey I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry." He said quietly, softing his voice. She turned to look at him, her eyes blue again meaning that her call had ended. "It's okay Wes that's on me." She gave him a small reassuring smile as she turned back to the road and swerving hard to miss a pothole "fucking road." She muttered as Wes chuckled to himself. Anymore he was rare to see any road work done outside of major cities due to most people migrating to them and those that didn't drove vehicles fit for an off road experience anyway.

About 10 miles later they were pulling onto a dirt road which to Wes looked to be better then the main road. The dust splattered under the tires and created clouds as they moved further down the road. Wes squinted his eyes peering into the darkness ahead he began to make out a vehicle and two figures there head lights flicked on as they approached and Wes saw a third figure behind the wheel of the vehicle. The two figures outside turned and Wes could see both sported black blazers with red shirts under them one had a visor over his eyes and the other sported a set of 4 or 5 eyes centered in the middle all shiny red in the dark. "Hey aren't these guys corpos?" He whispered. "Shut up I told you it's not your concern just keep your head down and your mouth shut I'll be right back. " Lilli snapped as she grabbed something from the back seat and exited the vehicle. She approached the pair stopping in front of their car in the headlights as Wes watched. They seemed to be exchanging words as he watched Lilli throw the one with the visor a bag which he caught opening it as he peered inside after a few long moments he looked up at his partner and nodded. The man's eyes glowed a deep yellow like they would if funds were being transferred as the man with the bag began to return to his car. Lilli then turned heading back towards Wes and the car causing him to release a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Corpos, she's messing with corpos his mind raced is she crazy that's a death sentence. As she entered the car he opened his mouth to start going off on her but stopped staring at her face she was white pale as if she was going to be sick staring straight ahead Wes turned following her gaze to where she was looking. He immediately understood why she looked this way in the distance and closing fast were 3 cars each with graffiti sprayed on them and even Wes as naive knew what the graffiti stood for. "The poachers.." he whispered. The poachers were a gang of nomad travelers that lived out of city's but pillaged them, especially the poor sections of bigger cities. They killed, robbed, and raped people for fun or maybe a sick thrill Wes didn't know which. " Lilli we gotta go." He whispered now hearing screaming and shouting as they grew closer. The corpos were now revving their engine as their tires spun kicking dirt up trying to catch traction to get the hell out of here. "LILLI WE GOT TO GO" Wes yelled out snapping Lilli out of her trance as she whipped the car around spinning dirt up blocking Wes's vision on the looming threat momentarily as she gunned the accelerator the car reved before there was a splutter as the engine died out "fuck fuck no not now" Lilli cried out as she turned the key over as the engine clicked and died out a second time. Wes started breathing harder as he began to feel an onset of panic as he looked back as they were almost upon them, their eyes shining in contrast to the dark behind them. The lights shone bright as he saw a car heading full speed towards them he shut his eyes tight embracing for impact as a sick sound of twisting metal ensured as the car slammed into them sending there car tumbling and in the plains his body tumbled and twisted as the car rolled his head slamming on the roof of the car his last thought being Lilli and then his mom as he faded into darkness.

Wes' vision came in and out blurry and distorted, his ears screamed with loud pitch sound like nails on chalkboard as he looked around trying to determine where he was. His head hurt as he felt a warm liquid running down his cheek as it dripped down onto what he was starting to realize was the roof of his sister's car. He stared at the drop as he felt his eyes drooping again as he felt his head growing fuzzy and dark. "Just need to rest." he thought as he felt himself fade as he closed his eyes. All at once his brain screamed Lilli as he felt his eyes shoot open Lilli where she was as his brain began to recall the corpo meeting her strange job and the worst of all the poachers. He began to frantically look around as he began to realize she was not in the car tugging at his seatbelt that held him suspended in air. What was once his safety net was now confining him to a twisted metal cage like an animal. "Come on you piece of shit" as he tugged and fussed with the belt. He finally gave up the struggle remembering the new piece of chrome he had installed into his arm 2 weeks prior as he activated his arm blade, his forearm opening up as a blade shot out sharp as a razor slicing through his belt as he tumbled crashing a few inches into the roof. "Ouch nice move moron" He mumbled to himself he retracted his blade, his arm closing and turning back into its regular shape. He thought back to when he begged his sister for the implant begging for weeks as his birthday approached trying to think of every practical reason he would need such a mod. In truth he just thought it was cool he wanted to feel like one of the mercs who were starting to slowly creep into society taking jobs for money no matter how dangerous. The government had attempted to keep mercs under wraps but they could barely contain the basic peace let alone stretch themselves against a bunch of chromed up mercs. So mercs began to crop up more and more and would be more likely to just be left to their own devices as they secured a living doing anything for the highest pay. Wes longed for a life of adventure and excitement, anything to interrupt his mundane life of school and knowledge that his sister always seemed to press on him. He began to scope out his surroundings as he peered around the car the metal was twisted around in parts glass shattered as he could see the contents of the car thrown about. His eyes turned blue as he scanned his surroundings looking for life or any form of Lilli. Come on where are you sis he though as he caught a glimpse of organic material on the other side of the car.

He slowly crawled his way out the car feeling glass shards crack and break under him. For his arms this wasn't a problem as he had chromed them but for his legs and torso that was a different story as he felt glass slicing his flesh like a hot knife on butter as pieces pierced into him lodging in his body. He grimaced at the pain as he continued biting his lip as he made his way out into the plains. Pieces on the car lay strewn around the area as he scanned the area making an attempt to rise to his feet his head swam at the movement threatening to send him tumbling to the ground if he decided to move about too fast. He raised his hand to his head holding it as he felt cool liquid on his hand pulling away to see his fingertips were now just as red as his palm. Alot of blood he thought as he turned to head towards the organic he scanned from the car slowly leaning on the car as he stumbled toward the back end "Lilli" he called out feeling the dryness in his throat letting out a cough as he attempted to call her again. "Lill- " suddenly as he approached the back of the car a hand attached to arm almost as big as his torso gripped his face, feeling his body rise off the ground as he wrapped his hand around the arm squeezing as hard as he could but in the state he was in he knew it was useless he kicked his legs opening to make contact with anything as he struggled against the massive force that was now crushing his head in its palm. He looked at the assailant, a large tanned man in black studded jacket with a green spiky mohawk, his arms covered in tattoos of all different varieties but the one that caught Wes's eye was the Poacher gang sign on his bicep.Wes froze his mind in a flurry of panic screaming at him do something anything but his body just didn't seem to respond as he he starred in silent horror Fuck this is it im done flatlined right here what a waste of life he thought going out and doing nothing about it how lame.He felt the mans grip tighten on his face scrunching it as he felt ready to pop the pressure bearing down on him. Sorry Lilli, sorry mom, and fuck you dad he thought as single tear slid down the right side of his face.

At the moment that he gave up a splash of liquid sprayed over his face it was a warm and wet smelling of iron as he took in the sight of the man's head that once stared at him now was gone like a blink of an eye the torso remained as he felt the grip loosen and his body crash to the ground as he looked up at the man who once held him squeezing the life from him his torso falling backwards in the dirt with a loud thud. Behind him holding a shotgun in one hand her other arm gone from the elbow down hanging loosely by her side was Lilli.

"Lilli…" Wes sobbed as he looked at her a stream of blood ran down the side of her face turning her brown hair red. Her jacket now gone she had scrapes and cuts lathered around her body, her chrome covered in blood though he couldn't tell if it was hers.

The shotgun dropped as her arm shook, struggling to handle it due to it being the size of her torso she was breathing heavily as she stepped forward. "Come on we gotta get out of here the other cars took off after the corpos they could be back any moment." She stated as she turned towards the city. Wes followed her with his eyes not moving from the spot he dropped too from his near death experience. In front of her he could see the lights from the city blinding and vibrant. He thought about how the city looked so cool from the distance but knew inside how haunting it could be.

"Hurry up!" Lilli's voice cut into his thoughts, snapping him back to reality and the shit show that he just survived. "We got a long way home" She continued as she turned not waiting for him to respond, or even checking to see if he was following. Wes pulled himself off the ground, his legs aching practically screaming at him to stop moving. He continued on after his sister despite his body's aching protest leaving the horror scene behind.