Rebuild World

Chapter 2: Training and Teaching

Later that Day

Max was making his way through the streets with civlian bums either lounging or working, they spotted Max walking by them iwth a backpack, heading to the local Hunter Office. Though with no one else seeing it, or her... Allison was floating next to him. While everyone went and to their lives, Max noticed that nobody was looking at Allison, as he asked via thoughts, 'Allison? So how is it I can see you and nobody else can?'

She turned to him and smiled Well, it's due to Augmented Reality. I'm basically manipulating my appearance to ensure nobody can see or hear me but you, due to the fact that you're able to connect with Old World Tech. And the fact that there are systems of Old Tech still buried around here, I can access signals pretty well while transmitting to you.

'So basically, you're a ghost that only I can see,' Max thought to himself, 'Thank goodness we can communicate through our thoughts. Otherwise, people would think I'm nuts for talking to thin air."

Allison then smirked, And people would think you're crazy if you looked like you were talking to yourself.

Max grimaced at that, but then looked around as some of the kids looked like they were gonna rob him. He remembered he was somewhat like this once before the card. Even people took advantage of him as well. He was honestly kinda lucky that he met Allison to make it easier. Though as they went on, Max spotted the area they had found.

Relic Exchange

The Relic Exchange was administered by the Main Hunter Office at the big leagues near the wall. So only small time hunters could exchange goods. Allison cringed as she saw the other hunters. Some had cybernetic limbs or implants, while others looked like they were shiftier. Though Max was at least a bit hopeful that Davis wasn't there. If he found out the kid was alive, he'd waste no time to kill him.

After the exchange, the counterman, pushed a plate of coins, as he said, "300 Aurom."

Max blinked, as he looked disappointed, "Only 300? But that was some military equipment and medicine." He then pointed at the coins, "This is barely enough for a meal."

The counter-man, having signs of cybernetic enhancements, due to the neck and exposed left forearm behind the white shirt and black vest, was unfazed by this, as he shrugged, "If you got a problem with the price, take the license and go somewhere else to find a better price, Mahx."

Max sighed, as he shook his head, One of the hunters, an adult male with leery eyes, slick back black hair, and a mustache, smirked, crossing his arms, "Heh, why don't you just get out of here, Kid?!"

Max reached for his gun... preparing to fire...

No Max, Allison said to him, If you cause a scene here, it will be harder to operate anywhere else. There are bound to be other places we can do business at.

Max sighed, as he let go of the gun, but the Counter Man said, "Listen, kid. Seriously, I'd like to give you a piece of advice. Hunters that don't have an A rank or reputation only get this much. You're lucky enough to have what you've got. We also got to evaluate this stuff; from what the team will figure out, it could be garbage. Just take it in stride, it's gonna take a day to evaluate a good price on it."

Max then asked, "And then...?"

"Then we'll come up with a good value for ya. Which we'll add to whatever you bring in next time," The counter man smirked. "So that means get out there and find something good."

Max smirked, "I will." He then pointed to him and smirked, "Even if I have to crawl back."

The counter smirked, "Just make sure you don't lose your card. You might end up starting over again."

Max nodded as he walked out. As he walked outside, Max pulled out his card, to which Allison saw the spelling: MAHX.

Allison thought it was odd that the store owner pronounced Max's name wrong, but she thought it might have been a speech impediment or some other reason. Max, are you aware that they spelled your name wrong on your Hunters License, Allison asked him in concern that he didn't notice it.

Max blinked, as he looked at it, and asked, 'Uh.. then what is it supposed to be spelled?'

Allison looked at Max and realized that he was illiterate. It's M-A-X. We'll have to add some language and spelling lessons to your daily training regimen, Allison said to him.

Max though looked shocked, and at the card, as he blinked, speaking aloud, "Wait. it's not spelled with an H?" He gripped his head as he collapsed on the ground, as he shouted, "AH, I'VE BEEN MAKING AN IDIOT OUT OF MYSELF!"

GRRRRRRDL!

Max blushed at that, as he got back up and sighed, "For now... I'm just gonna get something to eat."

Slums Provision Center

An outside stand was formed from an abandoned building acting liek a soup kitchen. In line were the broke and destitute: male, female, and kids. Max was currently taking his food and walked to a nearby corner, while Allison picked up a conversation from the two tellers, who looked to be from the city.

"Geez. Free or not, I can't believe they eat this crap."

"It's actually made from synthetic ingredients from some fishy-acting machines," another fellah smirked, as he watched some folks eat their food, "Rumor is it the basis is monster meat."

"Yuck. So long it doesn't mutate or kill, it makes it to market, eh?"

I knew that the world lost many resources after the Big One. But I didn't think it was this bad out here, Allison said as she looked at how everyone was barely getting by, Is it always like this here, Max?

Max shrugged, as he unwrapped the sandwich, 'I've lived out in the slums all my life before I met you. So... Yeah." And then took a bite out of the sandwich much to Allison's horror after what she heard.

Allison couldn't believe that humans were now resorting to monster meat to survive in this damaged world. How long would it be before some humans resorted to cannibalism? She knew she had to train Max in order for him to be able to protect himself. Not just from the monsters out in the wild but from desperate humans as well.

He then looked to her and asked, 'So... are there any ruins nearby that we could scrounge up some quick cash? If we got better stuff we could afford some real food.'

Allison blinked, Real food?

Max nodded, 'yeah, they only give this stuff out to the slums. I heard near the wall and beyond, they actually have food that's not processed.'

At that moment, Allison realized the structure of the world. The poor had to scrounge for anything to survive and the rich had all the resources they needed but kept it all to themselves. The power structure from before the Big One was still in effect. Even after what happened to the world.

I see somethings never change, Allison thought to herself as she hoped that humans might have improved themselves in the time of crisis. But she saw that she was wrong. Max looked at Allison who was staring off into space with a disappointed expression.

'Ally, are you okay,' Max asked her, 'What never changes?'

This caused Allison to break out of her train of thought. Wha- Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing, she said while putting on a forced smile, What did you ask before?

'I asked if you know of any good ruins that we could go to for easy cash so I can afford better food,' Max asked her again.

Allison thought on it, and smiled as she nodded, "I know of a spot."

LA Ruins

The ruins of what was once the city of Los Angeles were a dried set of broken buildings and rubble crumbled streets. Max looked around as he and Allison stood by to look around, but as he looked, he turned to Allison and asked, "Say, I've been meaning to ask. I'm the only one that can see you right?"

"Pretty much," Allison said... Though both were unaware of it, until Allison sensed it, but someone was watching them.

"Then wouldn't that mean there would be some equipment that could be um... made to find you?"

"It would have to be advanced technology to do that," Allison told him, "Don't move, we have company." Max was about to look but did as she told him to do while she observed the person watching Max.

However, Allison paled, as she screamed, MAX, TAKE COVER! Max did so as he ducked, as a shot was heard. Allison said, Head to the nearest building fast Max did so, as more gunshots were heard, as he asked, 'How many are there?' I'm sensing only two... Allison said, and paled, And they... they saw me.

Max's eyes widened at this new piece of info. "But how," Max asked in alarm, "Do they have that kind of advanced technology like you said?!"

I'm not sure, Allison replied as she attempted to scan the equipment of the ones chasing them, Whatever they're using, they were able to detect me.

Far from them, two hunters were the ones who took the shot. They were adult males, one with a red Mohawk and artificial eyes and another one bald and brawly with medium artificial muscles. They were dressed in black and dark green gear, with the bald one having a fur tuff on the shoulders and neck, with a heavy backpack with heavy weapons.

The Mohawk one smirked, "Dang. I thought I was seeing things with the new optic implants, but dang... that kid's got some Old World Tech. An A.I. following him."

"I wonder how a weakling like that found something like that," the bald one said, "Not that it matters! Once we steal and trade it, we'll be living like kings for life!"

The Mohawk elbowed him, "You idiot, then why'd you try and shoot him?"

"What's the big deal? Once he's dead, we can take the A.I. off of him," the bald one said, "It's not like anyone's going to miss a worthless piece of trash like him anyway! You see people like him go missing every day!"

"What if he's like one of those people? People who are descended from the Old World," Mohawk said as they made their way to where Max was at. "What if his brain is what connects him to that girl? We kill him, the A.I. goes away. We need him alive." He then smirked, "And then we sell him to R and D so they can cut him up."

"Oh yeah! Bonus cash," the Bald One said with a sinister tone of voice, "Now where did that rat run off to?"

Meanwhile

They managed to hide in an abandoned building's 2nd floor, as Max was sitting down, checking the ammo count and baton, as he breathed, "I thought it might have been a mistake, but I think they want me for you, Allison."

You are correct, Max, Allison said while avoiding being seen by them like Max was, What I do not understand is why they are trying to kill you?

'What do you mean,' Max asked her, 'Wouldn't it be easier to kill me so they can take you?'

No. As I am connected to you're brain, if you die, I die as well, Allison told him.

Max's eyes widened at hearing this new piece of information. 'What?! But aren't you connected to the facility where we met,' Max asked her as he found it hard to understand why she would die if he died as well.

Yeah, but they don't know where I am, Allison said. The only way they can get me is if you're still alive to experiment on.

'Well, at least they want us alive unlike Davis,' Max thought as he held his weapons close, 'Any idea where they are?'

Well, either way, we'll be dead or screwed if we don't view them as enemies and end them, Allison thought to Max. Meaning no holding back

'You mean... kill them,' Max asked her, 'This isn't like when we fought the Battle Hounds! You're asking me to kill fellow humans!'

Max, I know what I'm asking you to do is morally bad, but they're going to kill us if we do nothing, Allison said to him trying to not sound like a psycho, You're a good person, Max. But these people don't care if we live or not. Just like Davis yesterday. Are you going to just lie down and let them kill the both of us?

"Honestly, I know that eventually I'm gonna have to kill someone. Just didn't think it would be sooner than later," Max said as he spoke his mind, knowing full well what was gonna happen. Max looked at his weapons so far: the Baton, the hand Cannon, and the GRP, and thought aloud, "Well, with these it might be tough. If they've got augments, I'm gonna need to play this right."

Allison smirked as she winked, "You had leave support to me."

Max looked at her and nodded. Now, our first step should be separating the two of them to make the fight a little more even, Allison said to him, But that will be tricky. We didn't have time to prepare for this.

"And not a whole lot a to work with if it's just what I got," Max said.

Allison thought about it for a moment. With limited supplies and it being two people against Max due to her being unable to interact with the human world, their chances for victory were very slim.

Meanwhile, the two hunters rushed in, as the Mohawk gulped, "You know, I just got to wondering... that girl that's with him. She might be the Ghost of the Pit. That one that lures Hunters down the black hole, and they die."

"Oh yeah, I heard about her," the Bald Guy said, "If so then we're doing a favor for the kid. That crazy A.I. is probably using him to find new victims to kill!"

It was a common story among the veteran hunters. About a mysterious ghost that lures hunters deep into the Lost Area and the Pit. A place where few people ever returned. Some say it was a lost spirit calling for their lost love, others say it was someone luring people in order to perform twisted experiments on them, and others say it was an A.I. that was after human bodies to possess and control.

The Mohawk guy then smirked, "But it would explain why that blue-haired twerp got that Augmented suit and gear that you couldn't get at any of the Armory stores. It would also explain how he got those relics too."

"Gear like that is wasted on an undeserving rat like him," the Bald one said in a jealous tone, "He's just starting and he lucks out on some high-quality gear?! Well, now it's our turn to have some good fortune by selling him and his evil A.I.!"

The Mohawk one smirked, "But before we sell them both, we'll use them to find relics until they're too tired to resist. Might as well get what we need out of them before we get what we want."

"Great idea," the Bald One said, "Now all we have to do is to find them. They must be in here somewhere!" The two continued to look in every room for them.

"Remember, don't kill him," the Mohawk guy reminded his co-worker, "Just shot his leg and prevent him from escaping."

"Gotcha," the Bald one said with a sinister grin.

Suddenly, a shot was heard, as the Mohawk one fell back, crashed on his back... and rolled around in pain as he held his head, "Gaaah! That jackass chucked a rock at my head, pretty hard! It's like he's got a gun that shoots rocks at heads!"

Far away, Max mere held his left arm out with the GRP activated, as he blinked, "Why waste bullets when I can just chuck stuff at them."

Remember, Max. The GRP relies on a battery, Allison said reminded him, Once the battery is depleted of power, you won't be able to use it until you recharge it at the facility. The battery is good for now, but don't waste a single shot with it.

"Well, at least we were able to take the optics down, so that doesn't matter," Max said as the GRP deactivated, and bolted to the other room.

The Big Brawlers ran after as he roared, "I'm gonna rip your legs off and make you a carry-on!"

"Just break off one leg," the Mohawk one said, "The of him there is, the more money we'll get for him!"

"I'll be sure to do that...!" And then he rounded the corner... only for Allison to stand there, all silent as she looked to him. "Huh? Hey wait a minute. You're that Ghost A.I. girl."

Allison blinked, 'Ghost A... Oh, that was from the rumors about me. Yeah, I figured that would be the case. Kinda weird they think I'm a ghost.'

But the Bald one though... had a perverted gaze on her, making her feel really freaked out, as he said, "But then again... I think I could have some fun with you before I find the blue guy."

Allison looked nervous, as she thought Max! Please do something. I know you said you had a plan, but now I'm really freaking out!

The Bald one smiled, "C'mere..." But then suddenly, a hand with a gun in his hand shot up going through Allison's chest, as Max... was hidden behind her, and smirked... while the Bald one paled, "Oh shi..." BANG! The Bald Hunter fell down, with a smoking hole in his head.

Max stood up as he looked down at the guy and huffed, "Yeesh. Talk about a major sleeze."

"yeah, um, Max..." Allison blushed, as she looked away... "Could you... take your arm out of my chest? This is kinda weird for me."

Max blinked, as he looked down... and went wide eye as he blushed crimson. His arm was still in her chest. He pulled out as he freaked out, "I'm sorry, Allison! It wasn't what I...!"

Suddenly, a barrage of shots tore through the room's walls, nicking Max in the shoulder, and his left left, as he groaned, "Crap, not my leg again!"

Allison paled as she screamed, "MAX!"

The Mohawk Hunter emptied his clip out earlier, and then smirked, "Hey, Boy BLue! You alive? You kill Dalt?" Not getting an answer, as Max scooted away, the Mohawk taunted, "Gotta say, your A.I. is quite the babe. Too bad she doesn't have a body." He then began to walk towards the other end as he taunted, "You know, if your A.I. can find relics, we could work together on this. find her one of those bots I heard could mimic human appearance and functions. I also heard that the Walled City's got some as pleasure bots, assistants. Stick with me and we'll earn bookoo bucks!"

Max managed to swallow some nano-meds from the ruins he kept, as he managed to talk back, "Is that what you promised your former partner?"

Mohawk shrugged, "Meh, he was just a steroid case. Probably chromed his own dick. Wasn't all that much to taunt and trick to work with me."

The enemy continued to taunt, "But seriously, man. If you become my partner, we'd be swimming in moolah, and the women. You'd get plenty of booty; I'd be sure of that."

Silence rung in between the two, as Mohawk readied his assault rifle, until Max spoke up, "That sounds like a pretty enticing deal." But then answered, "Though not interested. I already got a cool partner."

Max was grimacing, as he was healing quickly to the meds, Max grumbled, "Dangit. How the heck am I gonna beat this schmuck?"

Allison then whispered, "Psst. Max. I have an idea. remember that artifact that was left off?"

"The small knife," Max asked, as he pulled out a sliver and white knife that looked to be a kind of blunt fillet knife, with a blue gem in the hilt.

"How's a small knife going to get us out of this mess," Max asked Allison in confusion. The two hunters chasing them had heavy guns while he just had the knife and his GRP.

Moments later, Mohawk was about to round the corner, as he smirked, "Time to di.." Suddenly, outside the building, a bright blue blade shot foward, cleaving a 45 slash across the area. Mohawk blinked, as something was wrong, as he asked, "What the..?" But then coughed out blood, as his mid section started to bleed. And then suddenly, parts of the building began to fall and collapse but maintain the integrity of the structure, but the wall came down as Max stood there, the glowing blue blade coming from the knife, as Mohawk looked to him and groaned, "What the fuck..." And then his top half slid down as his legs fell another direction, as he bled out and died.

Max stared at the now-dead hunter that was out to get him. He looked at the blade as it glowed. He thought he would be consumed with guilt after what he did, but he didn't. He felt nothing. 'Why was that so easy,' Max thought to himself as he feared he might have lost some of his humanity today.

Allison sighed, in relief, "I'm just glad that blade was still working," but then looked to Max as she asked, "though I'm a bit worried you weren't freaking out about the knife." She started doing impressions of him as she went, "WHAT THE WHAT?! HOW'S THIS BLADE SO POWERFUL?! AM I SUPERHUMAN?! WHAT'S GOING ON ALLISON?!" She then returned to normal, as she said, "You know, like that."

"Allison... am I as bad as Davis for killing these two," Max asked her in a solemn voice. The lack of guilt he was feeling was worse than the guilt of killing these two men.

Allison looked to him and shook her, and looked to him in concern, "No, no, no. Max, this is different from what I've seen Davis or these hunters do. The difference is that you're trying to survive. You don't relish in this." She then gently held his face, as she looked to him, "Max. You're different from them because you don't enjoy hurting others. Survival and Murder are two different things."

Max stared at Allison who smiled and comforted him. In the light of the day, she looked like an angel blessing someone who had just lost everything. Tears formed in Max's eyes as his emotions went wild. Allison hugged him as he cried in relief that she didn't see him as a monster for what he did. Allison just hugged Max as he let out all his pain.

However, he fell right through her, as she sighed, softly smiling, "Yeah, Remember, Augmented Reality. Not solid, sadly."

Max sighed, "thanks for the warning."

But suddenly, the knife suddenly died down and crumbled to dust, as Max shot up, "Oh come on. This almost cost me my leg today!"

"Well, I did kinda shut off most of the limiters. So yeah, it would break down like that," Allison shrugged.

"If we find another one, it will have to be a weapon of last resort," Max said before realizing what he just said, "That is if we actually find another one."

Allison smiled, "Nice." but then noticed Max stripping the two Hunters of their gear, as she asked, "Um, Max. I'm not sure their equipment will be enough.."

"It's not that. At times, if this happens, returning the gear can also cash in, along with whatever relics there is," Max said, as he managed to stuff some gear, while holstering some on his shoulder, and then held the automatic AAH rifle, as he thought, "Wonder if this is any good?"

"If it were, it would have killed you faster instead of hurting your leg," Allison said. But then thought, "Say, is there a weapons depot around the slums?"

"Yeah, it's called the Cartridge Freak. It's where you can get weapons or equipment," Max explained. "It's usually located in the Lower-Level District, it's an equipment shop mostly. I never went there mostly because I didn't get much cash. Until I ran in to you."

He then picked up what he could with the other guys' bags, and asked, "Why?"

"Well, when we trade in with the relics we still have and the equipment... " she winked, "We'll go shopping."

Max looked at her. "Shopping? For more equipment," he asked her.

"No. Clothing for you," Allison answered, "You really need a wardrobe update."

Later

Relic Exchange

Max was back with the equipment in tow at the counter. the same clerk looked to him and asked, "Rough day?"

"Don't ask," Max said.

With that, the clerk began to inspect the items that Max brought before him.

After close examination, the Clerk shrugged, "Was last time Luck? Today, it's just a dead man's rummage and poultry stuff."

"Like you said, it was a rough day," Max implied. But then blinked, "Wait, what do you mean Luck?"

"We finished appraising your last relic, so this..." the clerk said, as he pushed a plate with a thick wad of bills, as he said, "... is the money from today's relic and your last relic, including the equipment you wanted to trade in. It's all 800,000 Aurun."

Max's eyes widened from this. He didn't think it was possible for anyone to have that much money at once. But now the clerk was telling him that Max was about to be given enough money to live without work for at least a year.

The clerk shrugged while Max stood there frozen stiff, as he said, "Guys like you, even that Davis schmuck couldn't be paid that much if they wanted to."

But Max still stood there frozen...

Moments Later...

Max was shifting around, as he and Allison were heading to the Cartridge Freak, while he was shifting around clutching at his chest. He was looking back and forth, making sure his money would not be stolen. Either that or he was pulling what Allison had referred to as a Greedy Lil Duck scenario. Max didn't know who she was talking about, this Daffy Duck, but if he saw himself, he'd fit the bill.

You mean you don't have TV in the world now, Allison asked him.

"What's a TV," Max asked her having not heard that before.

Oh dear, Allison said in sadness, Now I know why everyone is so miserable. No cartoons and comedy.

They managed to spot the store as it was at a corner building, with a hanging sign reading Cartridge Freak. Once he went in with Allison following, the storekeeper was bent down putting something out as a female voice spoke, "Hold on a moment. Just putting something up. Browse around if you'd like, and I'll get to you." Max looked around as he saw the store shop itself for the first time. One shelf had handguns and mods shown, while another had locked up rifles. though there were a few clothing styles as Max nudged at his collar, "I really could use something more than my Augment Suit."

I agree, she told him, You'll catch a cold dressed like that during colder seasons.

"Well, we're far form that," Max said.

"Far from what," the teller said as she finally got up and walked around.

She was sixteen and Caucasian, much like Max. She had curly brown hair that went down to her mid back, brown eyes hidden behind glasses, a slender figure with a pretty big E chest, thin waist, and a pretty face, with three bangs up front. She wore a white blouse with puffy sleeves at her elbows rolled up, as well as opened up to her bellybutton to show off her under shirt, brown gloves for handling bullets and equipment. She had a hot orange under armor turtleneck tight shirt underneath that showed she didn't wear underwear underneath, a leader apron with pouches on it, with one having a lucky charm keychain on it, a brown skirt up to her knees, black boots, and wore an orange cap with a kitty pin on the left side.

"I'm Emmy, I run this shop," Emmy introduced herself with her smile showing.

Max was stunned by this new girl as he tried to find his voice. he was expecting another old man running the shop. Not a teenage girl like him. "I'm uh Max," Max quickly said, "It's nice to meet you."

Emmy smiled, as she asked, "So what can I get for you?"

Allison whispered, "Clothes."

But Max held up the AAH rifle, "I was hoping to buy an AAH rifle maintenance toolset."

"And some clothes."

"I'd also like to trade for a better rifle," Max said.

"And some clothes," Allison insisted.

Emmy gently took the rifle, as she said, "I can see you wanna sell it, but you can still use this rifle by a little of maintenance, you know?"

"Yeah, but I'm gonna be needing a new one," Max said as Allison was getting impatient. "A friend and supporter of mine said I'd be using the rifle for a long time, so it was better to get a new one rather than a Used one."

"Gotcha. Okay, let me see what I have over here," Emmy said as she looked through the shelves behind the cash register.

Max sighed as he thought, 'How am I this nervous around a girl when I'm with you, Allison?'

I'd like to know the reason as well, Allison said while glaring at Max with jealousy in her eyes. Max felt a chill go through his spine from the murderous intent behind his partner's eyes.

Max asked, 'why are you getting jealous?'

I'm not jealous, Allison said with bloated cheeks, I just dislike the idea of you being distracted by any pretty face you see. That could be a problem while in the field.

'Distracted,' Max asked, arching an eyebrow. 'I was only getting the business stuff out of the way until we get to clothing.' He then looked to her and asked, 'Wait.. are you jealous?'

I'm not programmed to feel jealous. Allison said while pouting. 'You're jealous alright,' Max said to her.

"Here you are," Emmy spoke up at the counter, snapping the two back to normal, as she put out a brand-spanking new AAH rifle. It looked similar to the one that Max had brought in but he noticed that the rifle had a retractable arm rest back. "This is a more updated, so it shouldn't give you any problems." She then put a small kit next to it, here's the maintenance kit. Not too much to lose track on." Max then asked, "So is there anything along the way of clothing?" Emmy thought on it as she said, "Well, I'm not much on fashion. It's mostly combat gear and armor." But then walked to the clothing as she pulled out something, and gently placed it on the table, "But we do have Under armor shirts, and jackets. They're custom made for any style you'd like, and for camouflage, so coloring and fashions can also be added. Plus they're battle ready in case you don't have your armor top on." She then perked up, "And they're cheap."

"You had me at cheap," Max joked.

The whole set cost about 10,000 which was surprisingly cheap, as Max got everything he needed, but asked, "Oh. I wanted to ask. Are there any apartments around for rent?"

Emmy nodded, "yeah, there's a place you can rent for 200 a month to stay."

Max smiled, "that's great. Can you point me in the right direction?"

Emmy smiled, "Well, I can show the way... I live there."

Max and Allison blinked at this, as Max gulped, "Oh really?"

"Yeah. It's not the best compared to others, but it's great if you just want a room over your head," Emmy said with a smile, "I'll show you after my shift is over."

Max smiled, "I'd like that." But then asked, "Wait. does it come with power?"

Emmy nodded, "Yep, Bed, fridge, power, AC, a bath..."

Max's eyes went wide as saucers as he took that news in, and screamed in his head, dancing around happily, 'A BAAAATH!'

Hour after Closing

Halfway Hotel Apartments

The hotel was nice and yes, it wasn't best in some ways, but it was better than the coldness outside or the dangers of sleeping outside. It was near or halfway close to the Wall, which lit up the night skies. Inside, when Emmy had checked in with Max, as she went to her apartment.. which was close to Max's. Max was livid when he saw the apartment he was in. True, it wasn't that much to look at, but it was big enough. There was plenty of space and furniture; a nice comfy couch, a table for four with a kitchen, and cooking wear with it. A nice soft King sized bed, fans and AC, with heaters. And a window showing the lights outside. Max at down on the bed, as he blinked, with Allison sitting next to him. "this place is huge," Max said. "And I'm not just saying that. I mean... I don't know if I'll ever be calm with this."

"I felt the same way when I first saw it," Emmy said while standing next to him, "The amazement will wear off after a month or two."

Max shot up as he blinked, "Gah!" How did you end up in here?" Allison was puffing up her cheeks at this.

"You left the door open," Emmy said to him, "I thought I'd check on you to see how you're settling in."

Max blushed, while Allison blinked, "Oh... yeah. He then looked around, "So this place is 200 a month, eh? Guess I'm gonna have to crank up my job then."

Emmy smiled, "Guess I have competition and a new client then." But both Max and Allison looked to her and she answered, "Oh, I'm a Hunter by part time too."

"You're a hunter too," Max asked her. "Yep, I need more merchandise at the shop to trade after all,"

Emmy said with a proud smile, "I figure that if people don't bring new stuff to me, I'll get it myself to sell."

Max then half-smirked, but was cautious as he asked, "So.. how troubled or wary should I be about competition from you?"

Emmy smiled, "I wouldn't worry about it. I was a bit worried about you too. though you seem like an honest person." But then got serious as she leaned in and asked, "So... are the rumors true about you?"

Max blinked, "Rumors?"

"That you have a Ghost being a guide to you," Emmy asked.

Max and Allison were surprised by this new piece of information. They knew that the two hunters from before had seen Allison, but neither of them imagined that others had seen her as well. Rumors seem to have spread faster than I thought, Allison said in surprise, This complicates things.

"That's the first I've heard of that," Max said while acting surprised, "But that's just a rumor. There's no such thing as a ghost. And even if there were such a thing, wouldn't I know if there was one with me or not?"

Emmy sat on the bed as she said, "Well, After what happened, the Hunters, the real cringy ones belonging to gangs, I hear stuff. they say there's a monster lurking in the ruins. One that too down a pack of Battle Hounds and their mutant Alpha. Now monsters like that are found in deeper ruins. Then another rumor popped up in saying said monster killed two Hunters packing cyber augmentation. And seeing that some said it was somebody with blue hair that fell down the Pit, when I saw your hair, I assumed."

Max was even more surprised by this. It was barely a day since that happened and people were saying things like that about him. "Well, I was near the Pit that day, but I didn't see any Battle Hounds there," Max said trying his best to sound truthful, "Maybe the rumor is just someone making up a story while drunk."

Emmy leaned back on the bed, a bit and she looked unamused as she said, "They also said that they had blue hair. You have blue hair."

"A coincidence," Max said weakly, "There's no way I would've survived against even one Battle Hound, let alone a pack of them."

Emmy shook her head, as she smiled, "Okay, I understand."

Allison sighed, And so much for a bath

Max suddenly dropped everything as Emmy seemed spooked, "Ah, what is it?"

But Max looked giddy as a boy as he smiled, rushing to the bathroom, "Bath, finally!"

Emmy sat up as he disappeared into the bathroom, with her and Allison blinked at this, the two completely unaware of the other. But both blushed as they saw clothes flying out as the water ran.

"Oh yeah," Max exclaimed in joy from the feeling of warm water on his body, "This is paradise." The water made his muscles relax as he felt as though he was melting into the bath water. He lied in the bath and rested is head on the rim of the bathtub.

Emmy thought for a moment, and then shrugged. Max smiled as he slipped in the back further, his shoulders almost submerged. He was too engrossed in this that he didn't notice a shadow walking in on bare feet. He then heard and felt the water shift a bit, as he sighed, "Allison, this is the best. Glad I found you at those ruins.

Allison stood to Max's right at the tub, stating, That's not me, Max.

"Who's Allison," a very familiar voice, but not the one he expected.

Max shot up as he sat up... and stared at the end of the tub... a nude Emmy. Without her glasses on, she looked rather attractive, even with her legs curled up to her chest... which surprisingly was really big.

Max's eyes went wide and his face glowed red. Allison however shot Emmy her best glare even if she couldn't be seen by him. "E-E-EMMY," Max shouted in shock while covering his crotch with, "Wh-Wh-What are you doing?!"

Emmy shrugged as she said, "Well, since you ran to the bathroom, and just shed off your clothes, I was about to walk out. But then I remembered, my plumbing is still screwed up." She then stood up a bit as she showed herself nude in front of him, "And you seem very nice. Not like the other hunters." but then sat back down, as she scooted over to him, "That, and I talk to myself, 'I'm worried that cute guys like this might not lost long, so...why not?'"

Max blinked, "Why not.. what?"

"Bathe with a really hot guy that I like, even if we just met... or met seven years ago when I was in the slums too," Emmy smiled. "You really don't remember me, do you?"

Max's heart was racing as the distance between the two of them decreased. He could see everything and he could not unsee it. But now she was saying they met before? Max knew that if he met someone who was nice to him, especially a girl, he would remember her. "You say we met a year ago," Max asked her trying to remember that event, "I'm sorry, where did we meet?"

Emmy said, as she started, "Well, I worked at a local scavenge bin. Not much in the way of work, and my body was small enough to squeeze through spots, but I was kinda tormented by Davis and his group: T-Dog, Brick, and Rat, or by their names Tommy, Ben, and Ronald. I only had a tattered cloth for a skirt and a baggy but still good orange turtleneck sweater, and I didn't have glasses. My hair was a huge mess, so my eyes were covered."

Allison had to think on that, and almost giggle at the imagery, thinking she was like a mini version of a character from a cartoon whose face was unnoticed.

But then Max shot up, almost startling both girls, as he said, "Bind Emmy? that's you?"

She nodded, "Yeah. I met you once when Davis tried to steal my sweater and you stepped up." She blushed as she looked away, "You actually were pretty brave to stand up to them."

"Yeah, but I got beat up because of it," Max had to groan at that. But then flinched as he saw Emmy reach up to his chest, and touch a scar there, "Eh Emmy?"

"Right here," Emmy said. "That's the scar Davis gave you when he tried to cut you with that piece of glass. And then..."

"And then you started throwing debris at them. One of them actually cutting a scar on Davis's head near his left eye," Max realized. "He lied that the scar..."

"Came from a rogue beast that tried to kill him in town," Emmy smiled, both remembering that.

"I remember now," Max said after talking about it brought the memories back to the surface of his mind, "I guess we both saved each other that day." "We sure did," Emmy said as she leaned next to Max as both teens blushed.

Both started to get heat-ridden as Max said, "We should get out."

Emmy nodded, "Yeah."

After they got out, both were in bathrobes, with Emmy's hair down and only a bit damp. Though as they sat at the table, Max had a hard time keeping it together, as he saw Emmy for the first time in a long time. she had really gotten sexy, even as he realized it when he blushed. Even Emmy had to hide her blush at seeing Max again for so long. Though the only one fuming at the moment was Allison as she stood behind Max, gnawing at his head. Though considering she wasn't physically able or able to hurt him, all she could do was act like she could, while fuming her words.

Getting close to him like that just because they saved each other, Allison thought to herself while keeping her thoughts out of Max's head, Just because she has a real body and I'm just data, she thinks she can just walk in here and use her body to get on his good side! I saved him as well and gave him the means to survive! That's just as important as her saving him was!

But then Emmy asked, "So about the rumors about this ghost following you?"

Max blinked as he said, "Oh, that's just a..."

"An A.I. of the Old World. And the reason I can't see them is that it's possibly using Augmented Reality," Emmy said, and finished, "And that you're a descendant from the Old World, Max?"

Both paled at that as Max gulped, "Um... how do you...?"

Emmy smiled as she leaned on the table, "Well, it was around the time I turned eight, that a Hunter chose to adopt me. He ran the store that you went to, and I learned a few things. Combat, maintaining weapons, communications, etc. But I think his biggest gift was teaching me about A.I. and those that could connect to it." She then had a cute smile as she pointed out, "Which kinda explained why you were always staring out at that big Pit. Like you saw something or heard something."

Allison stopped her attack on Max and looked amazed at the girl, Dang, she's good.

Max nodded, "yeah, she is." Emmy picked that up and stood up, asking, not caring if her boobs cleavage was showing, "Whoa. Are you talking to the A.I.? Is it here...?"

Realizing Emmy was too smart for this, Max sighed, "Yeah, she's here."

But then Emmy paled, as she blinked, "Wait. It's a She? And she..." She then covered her chest, looking bashful or ashamed as she asked, "Did she see... all of what happened?"

Max nodded.

Emmy blushed, as she cupped her cheeks, as she whimpered, "Ooooh, this is so embarrassing. I wonder what she thinks of me now.."

She's perceptive, I'll say that much, Allison said while glaring at Emmy, "But she's also quite dangerous." Max smiled nervously at the last part. "She says you're very perceptive and it's nice to meet you," he said while hoping to avoid any sort of conflict between the two girls.

Emmy read Max's face and said, "She also thinks I'm dangerous, mostly because I work at a shop and that I'm guessing..." She suddenly blushed and cupped her face, as she said, "Wait... " She then looked at an empty spot, thinking Allison was standing there, "Do you have feelings for him?"

Allison's cheeks glowed red. "It's only natural for me to be concerned about my partner," Allison said in her defense, "I wouldn't want him to fall into some sort of trap!" "She said she is concerned about me falling into a trap," Max said relaying Allison's answer, "Especially after today." "But she doesn't deny she doesn't have feelings for you," Emmy said with a sly grin.

But Emmy stopped for a moment and ran for her clothes, fishing something out, as she pulled it out. She walked over and placed it on the table. It was a cellphone-shaped device with a screen, black frame, and a blue button in the center of the bottom. "Say, can she connect with technology?

Max turned to Allison and asked, "Can you?" Allison thought on it for a moment, but Emmy started, "This is an old Item Finder and communicator. Hunters usually use these for long-range communication or for tracking other Hunters." Emmy smirked, "I figured if your A.I. girlfriend can hack into communications..."

"She could broadcast on the IFC," Max deduced, and smirked, "that way you and Allison can talk."

Emmy smiled, "Ah, her name's Allison. Cute and pretty."

Allison looked at the device. While it would save Max the trouble of being a radio between her and whoever she was talking to, she was concerned about the frequency being hacked by outside forces. It should work for now, but we'll need to adjust it to avoid outside forces from listening in on our conversations, Allison said to Max.

"Can it be adjusted from being used by outside forces," Max asked.

"Well, this device is pretty old, so the wifi signal doesn't really work," Emmy replied, as she said, "The device might actually be useful as a speaker. That way when others question about your partner, Allison could act like she's at home somewhere speaking on a phone."

"Sounds good to me," Max said as he looked at Allison for her seal of approval.

Allison looked at the device with a suspicious gaze but then nodded. I suppose it's worth a try, she said to Max.

Allison gently reached over, it, as her eyes glowed a bit, as she droned out, "Initiating Protocols. Safety Features Secure. Sequencing. Connection: COMPLETE." The device then switched on, as a small purple smiley face showed up, while Allison returned to normal and spoke, while also speaking through the phone, "Hello, Emmy."

Emmy squealed in excitement. "It works," Emmy said with a big smile, "Hello to you too Allison!"

Allison smiled, "It's nice to finally contact you, Emmy. Finally." Emmy then asked, "So... I have to ask... how did you and Max meet?"

Allison regaled her with the story of how Max and her met, and even Max vouched for her. But Emmy became intrigued, as she summarized it all, "So, Allison's asked you to find a relic she can't remember, locate 2 A.I.s like her, and as payment, she's going to be a Supporter for you. As well as get better equipment, weapons, and maybe even try to put together a team to help out with this." She then asked, "Did that sum up right?"

"Pretty much," Max said to her, "The second objective is to get stronger for when we eventually find the ruins where the relic is."

Emmy smiled, and then asked, "Can I be part of the team? As a Physical Supporter?"

Max looked at her in surprise while Allison's face twitched a big from hearing that. "I'd like that, but are you sure," Max asked her in concern, "If you party with me, you might become a target for the hunters like the ones that attacked me today."

"And if nobody watches your back aside from Allison, you could get killed faster," Emmy stated. She then sighed, "Besides, with an extra hand on my off days I can watch your back and help you carry more stuff. And while I'm in the store, I can look up or pick up some stuff that gets delivered." She winked, "It would pay to help you guys out if I can get some extra upgrades for the Augment Suit, or get Allison a Lover Bot body."

Max was still a little worried about putting Emmy's life at risk. "I think we should let her join," Allison said to Max surprising him, "It was always our plan to form a party. Plus, she knows about me now and we could use someone to help with maintaining our equipment on the field."

Emmy then winked, "And I'll keep an eye out for lifelike android bodies for Allison." She then smirked, "From what I've heard, the Walled City has them, and if you get enough moolah, you can purchase a blank one to modify for your use. Be it a helping hand in battle, around the house, or for the nights where you get lonely."

But then shot up as she blushed waving her hand, "Not that I fantasized about getting one!"

Both sweatdropped, 'She's thought of it.'

But then Emmy winked, "I'll even keep an eye out for party candidates."

"Thank you," Max said as he held his hand out, "Welcome to the team."

"Great to be a part of the team," Emmy said while shaking his hand with a wide grin. Allison placed her hand on top of both of there's even though Emmy couldn't see or feel her.

"I mean I'm hoping to get that body for Ally soon. Feels kinda awkward with her not being seen while you can see her," Emmy mumbled. To which the two nodded.

Next Chapter: Killing and Relishing the Hunt; The 2 Female Hunters

Another successful update, thanks to Sideways865.

Also, Merry Christmas