Chapter 2:

Painful Pasts and Scattered Dreams

"Hey! Hey! Roland! Hurry your ass up! We gotta make it to the Enclave by midday!"

I'm hurry'n...I'm hurry'n...

"Yea, yea, yea!" Roland shouted as he frantically packed everything he would ever need in his duffel bag. He grabbed shirts, pants, a compass, his hunting knife, his father's canteen, and other loose ends from his room and stuffed them deep in the bag with his boot. Quickly he dressed in all black attire, threw on his mothers red scarf and his fathers goggles as he headed out. He emerged outside huffing from the weight of the bag and nodded and at his brother Marcus. His brother was a tall man with girth of shoulders and chest that was covered by hard alloy armor, complements of Crimson Lance. The Atlas Corporation loved to experiment with armor on their active soldiers and Marcus seemed to be their favorite candidate. His hair was cut short and flat, curly scruff of brown hair covered his face in what he liked to call a beard, and small narrow eyes fixated on the bag in Roland's hands.

"Bout time you showed, get in." He said as he hauled the bag into the trunk.

Warmth covered Roland's body from the heat of the morning sun as he climbed into the turret seat of the runner. "You think we'll make it?" Roland asked worriedly. "Yea, I added extra juice to the booster to make sure we got the speed if we need it." His brother replied while scratching his beard. He hoped in, kicked started the engine, and set off at full speed through the dunes of Dardania.

As they came upon the entrance to Crimson Fastness they parked the runner and ran up to the side door in the garage. Several minutes of banging at the door past before the eye slit opened to reveal two red orbs peering at them. Marcus seemed to not be oppressed by the ominous eyes but fear took hold of Roland's throat and muscles instantly. Suddenly a static voice came through a speaker somewhere behind the door. "What is it? Oh, it's you Marc. Who's the runt?" Roland's nerves calmed as he realized it was a lieutenant in a FAWS suit.

"Kid brother. Going to see the recruiter, someone wants to join the Lance. Now open up Pike and stop scaring the kid." He replied with a slap to Roland's chest.

Steel rang against concrete as the door opened up to reveal a bare room furnished with a card table and four chairs occupied by three soldiers and a curious old man. At the site of him Marcus walked across the room and embraced the old-timer in a rough hug. The man was lavished in a pink silk shirt, short khaki pants and a torn straw hat. "Yuj! You old bugger, when did you get back in town?"

"Ah, well, I've been back for about a cycle now but been layin low for obvious reasons." He said with a wink.

"Haha, yea, always knee deep ain't ya? Heh, well what you doin here, besides stealin the roll from these fools?"

At the sound of this one of the soldiers mumbled something under his breath and shuffled in his seat. "C'mon old man, let's get back to the game." With a glance over his shoulder and a flick of the wrist his cards went flying through the air at them. "Consider that charity boys, you got a few things to learn before ya can earn a decent livin this way."

"So what are you doin here of all places? I thought you were out in the desert lookin for that ,ah... boon of yours."

"HAH! No....no...that didn't pan out. I decided to stop by and see the boys for a lil fun." He replied with a slight nod at the table. "Needed some kind of profit from this trip. Ahh! Is this the famous brother you've been telling me about?"

"The one and only," Marcus said with pointed a finger at Yuj, "And remember, I only said GOOD things about him alright."

"Well, of course. Heya, Roland is it? Sorry ta hear about your parents. Unfortunate thing that was." He conveyed with a pat on Roland's shoulder.

At the thought of his parents the memories etched into his skull came to life.

The roar of runners and bikes echoed through the billowing smoke inside their home. Fire crept along the walls and ceiling as burning beams and broken plaster fell to the floor. A woman was screaming in the other room and he saw his father pinned to the floor by a shotgun on his temple. Smoke filled his lungs and he coughed uncontrollably on the ground next to his brother. Men laughing mixed with the stifled groans of the woman in the room behind him. Feet came into his vision as a hand grabbed his head and pulled hard, arching his neck and back off the ground. A white and yellow masked covered his vision as tears rolled down his cheeks from terror. Glowing red eyes filled the eye slits of the mask and his heart froze as the man said. "She's almost done boy, come, watch the life fade from your mothers eyes."

Startled by the shake that Yujinny gave him, Roland tried to focus through misty eyes at the mans face. Thin grey hair was pulled back into a pony tail under the straw hat as pale green eyes saw through him. His skin was hard leather the color of a rusted copper pot and a few cuts covered his left check above a bushy grey beard. He could feel Yuj sense his pain as he spoke. "Well, ah... I believe my purse will get as full as it ever will. It's about time to head home and check on the shop." He got down on a knee and looked at Roland straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry, son."

"It was nice meeting you. Yuj?"

"Yujinny Kincaid if it pleases ya." He said with a flourish to the ground.

When the door closed behind him Roland followed his brother to the back of the room where a large door with "Human Resources" on it stood. As they stepped inside the room a short man of middle age was reading papers on his desk with a hard expression on his face. Marcus stood at attention and slammed his right fist against his left peck. "Sir."

"At ease Sergeant Deschain. What is the purpose of this visit?" He said as he looked up thumbing his thick salt and pepper mustache.

"We are here for the recruitment of my brother Roland. He wants to enlist for the prospect of becoming a mechanic in service. Sir."

The officer sized Roland up as he tapped his felt pen against the papers on his desk. "What are your expertise son?"

"I have a license in first aid, I can describe all basics of pharmaceuticals, I can perform basic mechanics, and I can read."

A whimsical smirk appeared on the officer's face at first and then a throaty laugh burst out of him at the comment.

"Good....good... you would make a good candidate for the Lance. Let me ask you this, where do you want to be in ten years?"

"Somewhere, anywhere away from this place. Exploring the galaxies. dealing justice where justice is deserved. Having my own place to call home."

"Hmmph."

The short man looked back down at the paper and brought it up to his face as he thought it over. Roland was only eleven years old but he could always work the station until he came of age. When the old mans face went from contemplation to resentment Roland lost all hope.

"Sergeant........at this time, we are not able to satisfy this request. I am sorry son, it's not you, nor your age. It is just.... this." He said solemnly as he tossed the paper on the desk. Marcus picked it up and read it over four times before giving it over to the officer.

"What's it say?" Roland asked in apprehension.

"I am being deployed to Prometheus. Almost everyone here is, cept the greenhorns. Atlas has called for all arms on the planet." Marcus ground his teeth at this and looked hard at the officer."I thought we had a deal Nate. This shouldn't affect him directly."

"I know we did and I am sorry, but with you gone we will not be able to watch over him. This is for his protection too. He can come back when he is of age, but now, he is too big of a target for pain and torture among the ranks. I won't let that happen to him after knowing his and your past. And we need you up there Marc, something ain't right on Prometheus. Somethin ain't right at all."

Roland sat there in a stupor for a long time while his brother and the officer talked over the arrangements that could be made for him. Their words sounded of waning and chirping to him as his mind wandered into a dark shallow abyss.

He is leaving me... I have no home...no family....

He couldn't remember how he got back to the runner or where they were going, but Marcus seemed to be content on getting there fast. Wind and sand was rushing past his face in the runner as they raced through cracked wastelands.

Where is he taking me? He can't take me with him...the Lance can't hold me..... there is no one else.....there is no place for me here…anywhere… anymore....

On the horizon a thin figure appeared in the heat mirage and overhead he could see a bird circling over the figure. As they got closer realization came to Roland in the form of a pink shirt and a straw hat. When they pulled up to Yujinny he only smiled and nodded at them.

"Thought I might make it back home before ya showed."

Marcus jumped out of the buggy stopping in mid stride at these words. "So you knew about this? Why didn't you warn me?"

Yujinny's expression turn cold as his eyes bore into his brothers. "I gamble with money for favors, information, and rarities. I cannot betray the words of a man who lost it grudgingly. You know this."

"Alright, I need your help though. Payback as it wills. Your the only one I can trust him with, and you can teach him the things he needs to know. Do this for me and you will have my eternal favor." With that said Marcus spit in his gloved fist and held his hand out. Silently, Yujinny pulled a hunting knife out, cut his palm and shook his brother's hand.

"Blood be my bond."

"Thank you." Marcus said with a tone of resentment. Roland knew what was coming next and he didn't want it to. His brother turned around and took the duffel bag out of the trunk and stood in the heat waiting for the inevitable. Each movement Roland made took effort beyond comparison and the moment came when his feet touched the ground. They embraced in kinship and childhood memories past through their minds.

"Don't lose it, don't lose your sanity here. I want to see you all grown up and ready to take me on when I get back."

"I'll be waiting and ready. Come back to me whole so I can kick your ass like a little brother aught to."

Eternity went by before they released their grip from their brotherly bond. Each gave the other a look beyond seeing before Marcus jumped in the runner and sped off. Fear settled into Roland like no other emotion could. Alone…

Yujinny gave Roland a while before wrapping his arm around him and saying. "Hey now, we gonna be right as rain now ya hear? I'mma sure your brother is gonna return, but no need to worry bout the future now ok? We got the here and now in front of us beatin our door down, heh. We got about three hours of walkin before we can make camp for the night, so lets make the most of it."

Time could only be measured in movements as they walked the desert looking at the sea of sand in front of them forever more. How can my life change so quickly? I almost had my dream…and then they took it all away…I hate them… I hate Atlas.

Talk was scarce during their walk, and the conversations were few and far between about anything other than survival tips. A change of scenery appeared in front of them in the shape of a rock wall a kilometer in length and about ten stories tall. Roland followed the grooves of the boulders and rocks as they passed by looking for some pattern or hidden shape to occupy his thoughts.

The bird overhead gave a loud shriek and flew off ahead of them.

"Stop. Something is wrong. Blood sees something up ahead." Yujinny said as he pulled out a rifle from nowhere like magic act. He peered down the scope for a moment and cursed at what he saw. Yuj tossed the sniper at Roland and pulled another from what seemed as thin air. "There is an Elder skag half a click down by the northwest wall, he is attackin some kids. See if you can shoot em with that." He said as he laid flat against the cracked desert floor and settled the rifle against his shoulder. Roland obliged in the same manner and adjusted the sights for the distance. The image he saw was a lump the color of baked clay dashing after two figures in the distance. He watched as the first form jumped and landed near the wall and started climbing up. Then the next jumped and fell against the ground and then pinned down by the beast. "Is that really a skag? He'd be huge up close."

"If you really wanna know, then I suggest you fire and hit your mark so we can go see."

Roland calmed his heart and relaxed his muscles like his brother taught him. Deep breaths. Letting the steel do the moving he waited and watched the crosshairs bob slightly with his pulse. One…..Two……….Three……….He saw the sweet spot, felt the shot, and fired.