An awakening between waste and...platypuses

The sun was already high in the sky when the cart stopped in the valley nearby a little town.

The young girl slowly opened her eyes, then she sneered, eventually it looked like something went down the wrong way as she started to coughed.

-Yes I know, it's always like that the moment one wakes up- Rufus' voice felt muffled to her hears.

-what…-she said faintly and sat while rubbing her eyes.

-Don't worry, you'll get used to this revolting air- he calmed her down –I wouldn't be so sure about this sucky planet, though- he added.

When the girl finally cleared her head she rapidly looked around, seeing nothing but clunkers and pieces of junk scattered all around.

-Garbage?...- she said.

-On and on and on- he chanted.

-And you…- her eyes lingered on him –Cletus?- she said in confusion.

-Who? No, my name's Rufus, the most handsome Deponian you'll ever meet- said Rufus solemnly, in a way that didn't suit him.

The girl stood up, denoting at least 10 cm more than the boy, in fact looking at him more carefully you could see Rufus had a much rosier skin and a more rebellious lock than her Cletus.

-Did you say Deponian?!- the girl said with a bright face.

-Sadly…I did- he moaned.

-Which means I'm on Deponia- exclaimed the girl.

-Where did you think you were?- he said –I don't think there are other planets that suck this much in the solar system-

-How many are you?- she asked, ignoring his complaints.

He frowned, floored.

-How many?-

-yes, people! How many are you on the planet?- She asked once more, firmly.

-Well…On the planet I wouldn't know- Rufus looked toward the hill they had just climbed –In the place where I come from we're approximately…a hundred…I believe-

-But that's great!- the girl held his hand, she was elated.

-Is it?!- he asked, more bewildered than ever, and looked at her in her eyes. She had amazing green eyes, that were now intensely shining with elation.

-Are you sure you didn't hit your head after the fall?- he asked, touching her forehead.

-Fall?- the girl lingered on that word and her elation disappeared –So I did fall- she said, brooding about something while touching her chin.

-I think…so…- he said –I retrieved you from an Elysium space shuttle, remember?-

-Actually I remember I was…- she paused like she had something to hide –I was…calmly descending, when I heard a burst…and then the vacuum…- she concluded.

Rufus started brooding over that too, which was rare for him…

-ah…well it went well- he said forcing himself to laugh, as if he was hiding something as well –the only thing that matters is that you didn't get hurt-

-Yes, that's a miracle- she said, relieved.

-Well…but- continued Rufus –What brings you on this filthy planet?-

-You don't know why I'm here?!- she asked.

-Because I kidnapped you from the major's house, put you in a cart and we went down the valley?- he said, utterly calm.

-No, I was sent to…- she stopped, as if Rufus' words arrived with delay –wait, what? Kidnapped?- she said agitatedly.

There was a minute of silence, Rufus rolled his eyes pretending it was nothing.

The young lady shook her head, ignoring that absurd speech.

-Anyway, I've been ordered to make sure Deponia is still habitable- she paused –That there was still life on it-

-if you call it life…- he retorted.

-When the Elysians know there are still people here, they'll want to proceed with the repopulation-

In the meantime, Rufus was nodding mechanically as if he couldn't care less about that entire speech.

-Wait, repopulation? No no, I want to go to Elysium- he said in a hurry.

-And we will, my dear, I still haven't introduced myself. I'm Goal!-

-Yes yes, but first tell me about how we are going to reach Elysium- he said, cutting the conversation short.

-I'll contact my boyfriend, who's certainly looking for us! He'll come get us and I will bring you to the council to show life on Deponia is still possible- Goal looked particularly passionate. On the other hand, Rufus looked mostly moronic because of the idea of going to Elysium with a beautiful girl.

-Wait, boyfriend?!- he exclaimed, as if every detail of that conversation arrived with delay.

-Yes. Cletus is my boyfriend, we were supposed to come here together, but we embarked separately…-

Rufus wasn't please that his "girlfriend" already had a boyfriend, he had to win her over with his irresistible charm.

-Rufus?-

Yes, he couldn't give up the chance of having a new girlfriend…an Elysian nonetheless.

-Rufus?-

-What?!- he exclaimed, unhappy he had been distracted from his evil plans.

The girl pointed at a weird little brown animal that was staring at them.

-What…what is that?- she asked as if she had never seen an animal before.

-oh that, it's a land platypus-

-Platy…what?-

-Yes, we have a few of them in this area of the planet-

-ow…it's so cute- Goal moved closer to it and tenderly took it in her arms.

Rufus crossed his arms. How could a ugly platypus be more charming than him, bah unacceptable.

-Anyhow, you said you have to talk to your…boyfriend?- said Rufus, pronouncing that word almost with despise. But the girl was literally rubbing her face against the animal's fur.

-it's so soft- she said.

The boy frowned.

-Goal!- he said firmly.

The young lady was startled.

-Oh yes, sorry- she let the platypus go –bye bye puppy- she said and got back to Rufus.

-So, if we want to contact him we need to reach a communication tower-

-You mean…- Rufus looked around.

Then he looked at the little town nearby.

-You mean that?- and pointed toward a high tower, one that was used for emergency communications.

-I know they used to be used to communicate with Elysium- she said with a thoughtful look –we may use it to com…- but, before she could finish the sentence, he took her by the hand and started walking in a hurry.

-Why didn't you just say it?- he said, his eyes shining with joy.

She smiled, amused. That funny boy who reminded her of Cletus in his appearance attracted her in an unknown way.