Part 3 - Heritage

Her black hair that was being tossed and ruffled across her eyes obscured the view of whoever had the weapon trained on her. From what she could make out, it was male, bulky and dirty. She glimpsed long hair, thick stubble that greyed in patches and furrowed, bushy eyebrows.

She took a shaky hand to her head and swept her hair aside, staring death down the barrel with wide eyes. She was frozen in time, her own movements and thought carrying her around a world that seemed to have stopped and given her space to think. Who were these people? Why the violence? Why hadn't Vincent said anything? Where did the come from? Her gaze flicked to Vincent, his green eyes still wide; almost shaking in their sockets as he started intently towards her. She turned back to the barrel and with a blink everything came into motion again.

"Who're you?!" a gruff voice demanded.

"J-just travellers…" Vincent answered weakly. His lack of presence annoyed Re-l slightly, she clenched her fists. "We were looking for a new home."

"New home? W'at happened ter your old 'un?!" the man now swung his gun around to face Vincent, who flinched a little before seeming to relax.

Re-l took her chance to observe things properly. The craft was little better than her own, but had the advantage of being self-propelled. The men on-board all looked old, rough and worn. As far as Re-l could see there were no women, and no children. No-one who wasn't at least in their late thirties. All the while she kept vague tabs on the conversation around her. It seemed they wanted to have the same answers as her. Who were they? Why were they travelling? Where were they going?

Vincent answered all in turn, and complied as he was asked to draw The Rabbit to a halt and let the others board. Apparently the mention of Romdo had riled the man with the gun. There was talk of immigrants, Mosko, removal from the city and being forced to live in the barren coldness that was the world outside.

The armed man inspected the area, scared Pino, took some food-cans and then got down to names. The two AutoReivs he didn't much care for, and Vincent Law was a name he'd never heard. Re-l Mayer on the other hand seemed to strike a nerve. A heavy, hard-skinned hand found its way to Re-l's neck and slammed her to the wall of the cabin, much to the dislike of Vincent who had to be restrained and taken out onto the deck.

"Donov Mayer caused us a good few problems 'e did." The gruff man spoke bitterly. Re-l started determinedly back into his grey eyes, unwavering. She could hear Vincent kicking and thrashing outside; would this bring out the Proxy?

"I wont be responsible for what my Grandfather did. He did his best with Romdo."

"By attackin' Mosko?! By forcin' us to leave our 'ome and work the poorest of labours in your shinin' beakon' of civilisation?! Only to 'ave us booted out the plug when we didn't turn out to be model citizens?! Oh yeah… your Grandfather did a fine job, Miss Re-l Mayer…"

He bought a knee sharply into her stomach and let her fall to her knees, leaving the cabin and Pino screaming and beginning to cry. He stepped outside and nodded to his accomplices who released the man thrashing in their arms.

"We ain't travelin' with this scum… they can find their own 'ome in this rotten world."

Vincent glared to the other's vessel as it slowly pulled away, lost into the horizon as quickly as it had come. He staggered down the short staircase to find Re-l curled on the floor in an almost foetal position, Pino patting on her arm. He carefully picked her up and cradled her; she offered little resistance. Perhaps she was still winded from her blow.