Some Assembly Required – Revised
A few days had passed since Manticore was burned to the ground. A fellow transgenic helped Zach out of his cell so that he could flee. Zach had been walking for days and miles had gone by. He wasn't sure where he was heading since no one had given him orders to do otherwise. He decided to head under cover until he could get in touch with someone from Manticore. After walking for more or less 13 hours that day, he decided to warm up at the next bar and find out where he was. He entered a dingy looking bar and sat at a table down at the back. People stared at him by way of sideways glances around the bar. Zach's face wasn't what it had once been. Now it contained a metal plate and a red light shone in place of an eye.
"Man, that's some killer gear. What is that anyway?" asked a steelhead, walking up to the table where Zach was sitting. Two other steelheads of medium height and small build stood behind him.
"None of your business." Was Zach's reply. "What did he say?" "We'll make it our business." They started to get angry and push Zach around. "Who does he think he is talking to us like that?" said a third steelhead. They honed in on him and one put his hand on Zach's shoulder. A big mistake on his part. Zach took the guy's hand in his own, crushing it. The steelhead yelped out in pain.
"What hell was that?!" He yelled to no one in particular. "Amazing.." Came from the leader of the group who was obviously in awe. "He's like a cyborg or something...we could use that." "Are you kidding me?" Asked the one with the crushed hand in disbelief. "Does it look like I am?" To Zach: "Hey, have you ever thought of joining a group? We could use someone like you." "No. I suggest you leave before someone else gets hurt." Said Zach. "Think about it. You'd fit right in. Not like any of us care anyway, but we could do a lot of damage together. Besides, you look worn out. We won't ask any questions if you decide to come." "Why would I want to join you? I'm fine on my own." Replied Zach with a solemn gaze. "Because from the looks of it you're gonna need some help and I don't think you'll get such a warm response from anyone else. These days people would kill to get their hands on someone like you." "Hey, Eddie we could give him in for money. You know fake organs can make a lotta mullah out there," said one of the steelheads aside to the leader. "No, we can make even more profit if he helps us." Responded the leader of the pack. Zach thought about it. It would be easier to get around with these guys than on his own. He'd have a temporary place to stay and would be able to wait for a signal from Manticore, while keeping his eyes open for them. It was the best option he had right now.
"Alright if I join you you don't ask any questions?" Asked Zach point blank. "That's the deal. You help us, we'll help you." Said Eddie, the head steelhead. "Fine, I'm in." Said Zach, getting up from the table.
A few days had passed since Manticore was burned to the ground. A fellow transgenic helped Zach out of his cell so that he could flee. Zach had been walking for days and miles had gone by. He wasn't sure where he was heading since no one had given him orders to do otherwise. He decided to head under cover until he could get in touch with someone from Manticore. After walking for more or less 13 hours that day, he decided to warm up at the next bar and find out where he was. He entered a dingy looking bar and sat at a table down at the back. People stared at him by way of sideways glances around the bar. Zach's face wasn't what it had once been. Now it contained a metal plate and a red light shone in place of an eye.
"Man, that's some killer gear. What is that anyway?" asked a steelhead, walking up to the table where Zach was sitting. Two other steelheads of medium height and small build stood behind him.
"None of your business." Was Zach's reply. "What did he say?" "We'll make it our business." They started to get angry and push Zach around. "Who does he think he is talking to us like that?" said a third steelhead. They honed in on him and one put his hand on Zach's shoulder. A big mistake on his part. Zach took the guy's hand in his own, crushing it. The steelhead yelped out in pain.
"What hell was that?!" He yelled to no one in particular. "Amazing.." Came from the leader of the group who was obviously in awe. "He's like a cyborg or something...we could use that." "Are you kidding me?" Asked the one with the crushed hand in disbelief. "Does it look like I am?" To Zach: "Hey, have you ever thought of joining a group? We could use someone like you." "No. I suggest you leave before someone else gets hurt." Said Zach. "Think about it. You'd fit right in. Not like any of us care anyway, but we could do a lot of damage together. Besides, you look worn out. We won't ask any questions if you decide to come." "Why would I want to join you? I'm fine on my own." Replied Zach with a solemn gaze. "Because from the looks of it you're gonna need some help and I don't think you'll get such a warm response from anyone else. These days people would kill to get their hands on someone like you." "Hey, Eddie we could give him in for money. You know fake organs can make a lotta mullah out there," said one of the steelheads aside to the leader. "No, we can make even more profit if he helps us." Responded the leader of the pack. Zach thought about it. It would be easier to get around with these guys than on his own. He'd have a temporary place to stay and would be able to wait for a signal from Manticore, while keeping his eyes open for them. It was the best option he had right now.
"Alright if I join you you don't ask any questions?" Asked Zach point blank. "That's the deal. You help us, we'll help you." Said Eddie, the head steelhead. "Fine, I'm in." Said Zach, getting up from the table.