With the Resistance
-That, that, THAT! This is all his fault- yelled Cletus, he was furious, to put it mildly.
-it's not just his fault, after all I did help him to open the door, I sure didn't expect the tower to be destroyed- said Goal.
The two were walking in the streets of Kapitol, the sun was already high in the sky.
-Dammit, I'm not used to true sun- complained Cletus –Let's find a transmitter, I'll warn Argus we're here and he'll come get us-
-Cletus…- suddenly Goal paused.
-uhm? What's up Goal? Why did you stop?- said Cletus impatient.
-Do you know that- the girl found her courage –Argus and the organon are planning on destroying Deponia?-
There were a few moments of silence, Cletus looked away.
-But what are you thinking- he then said, trying to appear bewildered –no way-
-But…I heard Argus talking about it to the captain-
-I'm sure you misunderstood- he cut the conversation short.
-They discovered me and I ran away in a hurry on one of the shuttles- Cletus swallowed –At the beginning I thought they were the ones who hit me…- she concluded.
-C'mon, Goal, your father is the head of security, you misunderstood- he calmed her down –and it was that Deponian who made you fall, wasn't he?-
-Yes…- she said, touching the right pocket of her suit with her hand.
–you're right-
And they kept on walking.
-Let's split up, it's going to be easier to find a transmitter- said Goal right away.
-Are you sure?- asked Cletus, who wasn't inclined to this option.
The young girl smiled and then timidly kissed him on his cheek. He froze with a lost look on his face.
-Ok…as you wish- he added.
They split, but Goal surely had something else on her mind.
-So this is Kapitol, I've never been here- said Rufus as soon as they arrived.
-So, Rufus, the moment you find those two you come straight back here, are we clear?- recommended him Doc.
-Would it be a problem if there was only Goal?- asked the boy.
-All that matters is that one of them comes with you-
Heard those words, Rufus was already planning on leaving Cletus there, so with a wave he walked away heading to the center of the city.
-Doc, are you really sure of entrusting him with this mission?- asked Bozo after Rufus had walked away.
-Tony ensured me that when Rufus makes a decision no one and nothing can stop him- he answered to his friend –if he really is into the girl, he'll succeed-
Now, Kapitol surely was a big city, well, of garbage of course, but not only. Plenty of buildings were built with bricks, a small stream of apparently potable water poured through the streets and little trees grew across the alleys.
It was incredible, since the only plants Rufus had ever seen were Tony's attempts to grow basil at home, beside the one tree on Krem's hill.
Though his main mission was to bring Goal back to the ship, Rufus' eye was immediately caught by a stand of…sweets!
-SWEETS!- he exclaimed.
He had never seen one before, luckily he had snaffled some money from Doc.
-Rufus?!- the boy turned with a sudden movement hearing that familiar voice.
-Goal- he said, happy at first.
However, he then bowed his head.
-Goal, you…you know I'm sorry about your shuttle-
Goal sighed and then winked.
-I'm sorry too-
The guy looked at her.
-You know, I haven't been completely honest with you- she said.
-You mean you once hit someone with a rocket too?- he asked.
The young girl burst into laugh, how could he ever come up with things like that?
-No no, I…GET DOWN!- Goal grabbed him by the head and they both bent over.
-What the hell?- asked the guy, caught by surprise.
They kneeled and sneaked through some trash cans, glancing at the bottom of the road.
-Cletus…- said Rufus –wasn't he your boyfriend? Why are we hiding?-
-I'm afraid he's working with some bad people- she said.
-the organon?- said Rufus distractedly.
-So you know, too?-
-Well, they tried to kill me, I found out they're trying to blow Deponia up…but they don't have the codes…something-
-The ignition codes- she continued.
-Yes, those!-
When Cletus left, the two stood up again.
-Look, Rufus, we need to talk- Goal looked around –but not here-
The boy crossed his arms showing a certain confidence.
-So I'd say we go to the people who sent me looking for you-
She frowned, confused.
-There is a group of rebels, Goal- Rufus winked with a smile –and I happen to be part of it- he concluded arrogantly.
Goal's eyes sparkled.
-But that's great- she said, grabbing his hand –Take me to them!-
Extra Chapter – A Bittersweet Lunch
-Before we go- Rufus paused and insecurely started to look at her –would you like to have lunch together?- he finally asked.
-Lunch? But there's no time- pointed out the girl.
He looked away and put a hand behind his head, embarrassed.
That gesture softened Goal.
-However…a quick bite maybe- she continued.
Rufus glanced at her happily, Goal really liked when he had such a funny and satisfied look.
They walked for a while, meanwhile Goal was fascinated with the plethora of people living there and every now and then she would ask Rufus questions about strange objects she saw there.
-Here we are!- said Rufus, stopping in front of a kiosk he noticed a few hours before.
-Shall we eat here?- hesitantly asked the girl.
But, without thinking twice, Rufus was already ordering. The two sat at a table.
After a while, they were served.
-Are they…hamburgers?- asked Goal.
-Unfortunately it's the only food they serve around here- he explained while biting his sandwich.
It really wasn't the moment to be picky, if she had to eventually live there, she'd better get used to the food, so with initial reluctance she approached the sandwich, its smell was not bad at all, a lot alike the hamburgers you could eat on Elysium.
-Those platypuses are really delicious- exclaimed Rufus at his second bite.
Goal froze before tasting hers…
-Something wrong?- he asked, noticing her reluctance.
-Platy…Platypuses?-
Goal had the impulse to vomit, left the sandwich e put a hand on her mouth.
-They're the only animals, there isn't a great variety of meat- he said.
Meanwhile in Goal's head there still was the image of the tender platypus she was cuddling that morning.
-I'm sorry, Rufus, but…I can't- concluded the young Elysian, who was still keeping a hand on her mouth.
-I'm sorry you didn't eat- said Rufus, truly sorry –do you happen to be a vegetarian?-
-No no, don't worry- reassured him Goal while walking to the meeting point –it's that we don't usually become familiar with the meat before we eat it- she said, her face still pale.
Then Rufus stopped again.
Goal turned around as soon as she noticed she was walking alone.
-Something wrong?- she said.
He pulled two big and round lollipops out of his pocket. She seemed confused.
-Here, I took them for both of us- Rufus gave a hint of a smile. The girl reciprocated that shy smile and took hers.
Maybe next time she would have tried harder to please him.
End of the extra chapter
-you've been quick- pointed out the mustached Doc when the two finally arrived, while enjoying some lollipops Rufus had bought that morning.
-Yes, well, I attract girls like a magnet thanks to my incredible charm- said Rufus then.
The inappropriate statement caused a moment of silence.
-Goal, meet Doc and…- he indicated the big man behind –this is a pirate, his name is Bozo and he's undercover- he whispered to Goal.
Bozo sighed, imagining what he was saying.
-Oh great, I've never met a real pirate before- she said elated.
-I…well…never mind, my pleasure- said Bozo.
-We need to leave right now, there's no time for official introductions-
-are we going to Elysium?- hopefully asked Rufus.
-No, Rufus, we're going to the rebels' base, that's in Krem-
-Krem?! I had no idea there was a base…- the young boy said.
-You had no idea there were rebels, too- said Doc.
Rufus frowned, how come no one told him anything?
-Anyway there's no rush at all…- intervened Goal and she pulled out of her pocket a small disk –here there are the ignition codes- she said with a smile, biting her candy.
The three of them were bewildered and happy at the same time.
Then the girl handled the codes to Doc and spoke to Rufus.
-The fact I had to make sure there was life on Elysium was true- said Goal, then she looked away –but I was supposed to leave with Cletus-
-And what happened in the end?- asked Rufus, who was curious.
-I overheard Argus talking to someone about those codes and their plan- she looked again at Rufus straight in the eyes –they caught me taking the codes, so I ran!-
Meanwhile, Bozo and Doc were listening to the girl without saying a word.
-If you hadn't hit me, they would have probably destroyed my shuttle pretending it was an accident-
The young girl moved closer to Rufus' face and gently kissed him on the cheek, then she looked at him, who had blushed, confused by that gesture.
-So…thank you for saving me in your own way- she eventually smiled.
No one had ever thanked him before for making an attempt on one's life…that girl was really weird, he thought.
Rufus timidly smiled back.
In the meantime his heart was beating fast, unlike how it used to beat when Tony cooked him his favorite meal or when he was close to reaching Elysium, no that was different, it was a warmth he hadn't felt in years.
-Ok then- intervened Doc –let's go give the others the good news about the chip!- he concluded –We're leaving, Bozo!-
The big pirate…I mean, merchant, didn't need to hear it twice. The small ship closed its doors and slowly started sailing from Kapitol's haven, leaving the sunset behind them.
