I jumped off the zoomer just as jak left the saloon, looking disgruntled. The complete opposite of the way he used to be. Had two years the baron's prison really effected him that much?
"Jak!" I yelled to get his attention. He stopped.
"What, Zoe? I got stuff to do."
"Don't give me that bullshit. I haven't seen you in two years? No, 'I missed you' or 'where have you been?' Not even a 'are you okay?'!"
"Zoe.."
"And don't 'Zoe' me! What happened to you? You used to be sweet, caring, and now you ddecide to give me the cold shoulder. Really?"
"Look. I don't know where I am, all I want is to make baron praxis pay for what he did to me."
"Trust me, I get it. But don't shut me out. Please." I grab onto his sleeve, and he doesn't stop me. He sighed, then looked into my eyes.
"Alright. I gotta go do something for krew. Do you mind getting info from him?"
"It'll be my pleasure. But you owe me."
"Right." he nodded before jumping on a zoomer and taking off. I spun around, walking into the hip hog heaven saloon and sitting on a bar stool, remembering the first time I ever stepped into this place.
-Three months ago-
I shouldered the bag of high quality Eco ore, avoiding the krimzon guard just barely. I stepped inside the saloon, it smelling like Samos' hut after Dax shot stink bombs at keira and I. I was immediately greeted by a tan man dressed in all metal armor. He was at least two feet taller than me.
"What's a pipsqueak like you doing here? Get moving."
"Uh, first off, it's Zoe. Not pipsqueak. Second, I have something your boss wants, so if you don't want to piss him and the underground off, I'd suggest you move outta my way, chrome head." I growled.
"Why you-"
"Sig! Don't intimidate our... Guest." A new voice said from behind him. He moved aside, revealing who I assumed was Krew. I didn't even want to comprehend what was in front of me. So I focused on his face, trying to ignore everything else about him. Especially the smell. Now I knew where the stench came from, though.
"You must be krew." I said.
"Indeed, miss-"
"Zoe. Just Zoe."
"Zoe. Mmnn what a wonderful name."
I wanted to kick this guy in the gut, but I was afraid my foot would get stuck.
"Thanks... Well I wanted to deliver your ore for ya. Torn sends his regards." I said, walking to the bar and set the bag on it. Sig and krew walked(well Sig did, krew just floated) over to it. Krew nodded at Sig, which then looked in the bag
"Its all there, krew."
"Good, good. Now, Miss Zoe would probably want her payment, yes?"
"I told you-"
"Hmm. Sig?" He looked over at him. He then walked to the back for a few minutes only to come out with a holster holding what looked like a gun.
"This little baby may look non threatening, but trust me, it packs a punch." Krew said as Sig reluctantly handed it over. I took it, attaching it to my belt. I pulled it out, looking at it. It was smaller than what the guard used, but if worse comes to worse It could save my life. I also wouldn't have to use... That other side.
"And some ammo for you." Sig gave me a pouch that I also put on my belt.
"Thanks."
"Now, Zoe. I know you may be working for torn, but you might not get fancy toys and money, right?"
"Why would I want money? And the underground has serious fire power. The reason I joined them was to kick the baron's ass."
"So revenge is what drives you, eh?"
"Yeah."
"But you'd get there faster and a lot more information with me. And also, find out who else is trapped in that prison of his."
I immediately froze. Was he-
"What? Who are you talking about?"
"Well I wouldn't tell an outsider a word."
Is this guy for real? Dangling important information in front of my face only to jerk it away? Keep your cool Zoe. Don't do anything stupid.
"So that how this is played, huh?" I sighed, grabbing the bottom of his chair and yanking him down with one swoop. I then pulled out my gun and pointed it at his face.
"How about you tell me who's in that prison or I'll blow your face off!" I growled. Where this anger and strength came from escaped me, it was like a switch had been flipped. Krew was actually sweating.
"L-let me go. Sig!"
Sig was just watching intently. It was like he'd never seen someone so bold do this his boss. He tried to pull away, but I had a good grip.
"Tell me!" I yelled, taking the safety off the gun.
"Fine! Its a kid! Blond, spiked hair! Now let me go!" He cried. I was right. Jak... was alive. I put the safety back on and holstered the gun. I let him go, he flying out of reach. The anger and strength dissipated.
"You threatened me and declined my offer. That was stupid of you!" He yelled.
"Well I don't work with quivering sacks of grossness and stench!" I growled. I could swear Sig was fighting a laugh.
"You made yourself an enemy!"
"I think I'll be fine." I said, walking out and into the street. I jumped on my zoomer, taking off. I decided to take a back way, only to save me time and avoid high traffic areas. But, that was stupid as I heard a whoosh and then an explosion behind me. Then there was another one, this time my zoomer exploding. Causing me to fly off and land in a pile if crates. The few pedestrians around screamed and ran off, leaving me in that alleyway alone. I opened my eyes to see three men dressed in red. Krimzon guard... I tried standing, but my legs were covered in debris.
"Wanted criminal! Do not move or we will shoot!" The one in the middle said, his uniform better than the others. Must be higher rank. The one on his left held what seemed to be a rocket launcher. He must've been the one to shoot me.
"You really want to do that?" I growled, the anger coming back. How dare they attack me?
"The info was correct, unit 7. She was leaving sector 9." One said in his earpiece.
"What should we do? Kill her, or turn her in to the baron?" the other asked the commander.
"Well the man named krew paid us to kill her..." The one on the right said.
That set me off. That coward! Couldn't kill me himself. The rage built up and I blacked out. All I could hear was screams and begging for lives. My eyes shot open to see just blood everywhere. But not on me, Just my hands though.
"You made a mess." A voice said. I looked up to see Sig.
"I-It wasn't... They were going to kill me! I... I couldn't control it!"
"Calm down, Zoe." He said walking to me. I could hear sirens approaching and my hands clenched. I was a monster.
"I...I-"
"C'mon. Let's clean you up." He pulled me up, holding my arm and dragging me through the city to the saloon. But before we arrived we stopped at a different building. It seemed like a gun range. He sat me at a table, pulling out a rag.
"Why are you helping me? You saw what I did!"
"Because the girl I saw st the saloon wasn't the girl I saw rip apart those guards."
"Uh, yes it is. Look what he did! Look at my arms! I'm messed up inside! Dark Eco runs in my veins!"
"Zoe, listen to me. That's someone else." He said firmly. Like he believed it. I just met this man and Now he was so caught up in my problems that he acted like he was a friend.
"Someone else... Not. Me." I softly repeated, looking at my now clean hands. But they weren't clean, were they? I had a feeling that shit was only going to get worse. Sig placed a badge on the table beside me.
"Security pass. You can go into any part of the city you want."
"Where did you-"
"I don't think you want me to answer that, do ya pipsqueak?"
"No." I said, looking at him,"And don't call me that."
