A worthless man, a wicked man, goes around; with devious speech, winking with his eyes, making signs with his feet, pointing with his fingers, planning evil with a perverse mind, continually stirring up discord. Therefore, disaster will overtake him suddenly. He will be broken in an instant, and he will never recover.

Proverbs 6:12-15

Chapter 2, Friends and Family

"Tell me why I should believe anything you say?" Garth asked with a venomous tone.

The older lombax chuckled lightly as he lit a smoke and leaned back. "Ya don't have ta kid, you know that. Fella in our lines of work can't be trusted. All ya gots ta do is listen an' decide if it's worth trustin'. How long we been doin' dis kinda work? Twenty years? Thirty?"

"I never wanted in this kind of life..."

"Yet here ya are sport. Funny how that works eh?" He crushed out his smoke. "But I do guess I owe ya a little bit of honesty, after all, ain't we friends?"

"I thought we were family."

"Ah, an' those in a family never lie eh?"

"Family doesn't mean you manipulate and use people!"

"'Course it does kid! Look around ya, 'ave ya ever seen a family that doesn't do those things? If we ain't the very definition of a family, then I don't know what is."

"Hers didn't lie or use her!"

"Yet look what she did ta ya pal."

"She was forced to!"

"Maybe, maybe not, we'll never know fer sure." He looked at the watch on his wrist. "Nice meetin' ya kid, I'll tell the boys ya said hello."

Garth lay on his bed in the orphanage. He sighed, it had been two days since Weiss had left and he was alone. He had made friends before and, like her, they all had been taken or they had ran away. Unlike the others, Garth hadn't felt such an attachment to another person before. He had a very close friend who ran away, and it hurt him badly, but Weiss leaving hurt him more than anything he had felt before.

Clint... my best friend, I wish you were here. At least I'd have someone to help me deal with her being taken. He sighed as he though about his life and what he should do.

Clint was only two years older than Garth, making him fifteen. Clint held a set of street-smarts and charisma that made him like a brother to the younger lombax.

I have nothing here, no friends, no family, I only own a few clothes and this instrument... Why should I stay? Maybe Clint was right to go. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him. I'm gonna do it, been here for years and what have I got to show for it? I'm going to try to find Clint and maybe I can even find Weiss. He quietly climbed out of his bed and grabbed his Outlier before heading for the nearest window.

Weiss was beaming, the prospect of being adopted into the family she dreamed about overrode the feeling of loss at being away from Garth. Her adoptive mother smiled at her as they arrived to their home. It was a small mansion built just outside of the capital city on Fastoon. The front gate opened up and revealed a garden that surrounded the dwelling and a few servants were working in it when they pulled in.

"Welcome home," Her new father, Mark Cross, said with a warm, happy tone as they got out of the craft. He went around and got her bag as her new mother led her up to the entrance of the estate. The place, like most lombax architecture, was rounded in appearance and gave off an older appearance despite the advanced technology put into it. The place felt warm, the tile floor of the main, living area felt cool and welcoming against the hot, desert sands of Fastoon.

"What do you think of the place dear?" Her new mom, Kelly Cross, asked with a smile.

Weiss smiled back and nodded, "I love it! So neat and tidy and warm!"

"Come on, you should see your room," Kelly suggested in a friendly tone.

Weiss nodded eagerly as her dad approached them and they led her down a hall to her new room. It was plenty big and welcoming and had a desk with plenty of tools and instruments for the inquisitive kit. She beamed as she walked up to it and turned and saw the big window that looked out onto the garden. She then flopped backwards onto the soft bed and looked at her adoptive parents and smiled as wide as she could. Obviously enthralled at the prospect of having her own room and belongings and having a family to belong to.

"What do you think?" Mark asked as he put an arm around his wife.

"It's wonderful!" She exclaimed as she jumped up and ran over to them where she hugged their waists. "You guys are great! Thanks so much for taking me in." Weiss' eyes got a bit wet.

"We're glad to have you darling," Kelly said and rubbed her head. "We love you, and we want the very best for you." She, and her husband as well, had slightly wet eyes at the thought of having a child of their own and also giving a life to an unfortunate kid.

Garth ran down the street, he was breathing hard and the rush of adrenaline kept his exhaustion at bay as he clung to a few pieces of stolen fruit from a vendor. His growling belly urged him to run faster, to avoid having to go another minute without something to eat. The yells of the vendor and a Guard that happened to be nearby echoed in his ears as they gave pursuit.

He had been living on the streets of Fastoon's capital for three weeks and he had lost a good deal of weight in the process. Not that he had a whole lot to lose to begin with but whatever little bit of pudge he had was now gone.

He quickly ran around a corner and into an alleyway. He whimpered lightly as he realized he was cornered and frantically looked around for an out as the sounds of his pursuers drew near.

"Hey! this way!" A familiar voice called out and Garth turned towards he source. He smiled a bit as he saw Clint leaning out of a second-story window and offering his hand. The white, dirty-furred lombax with brown stripes and blue eyes was smirking lightly as he called out.

Garth ran and leapt up, he held the fruit in one arm and caught Clint's hand with his free one.

Clint grunted as he pulled and lifted Garth up into the window. He smiled and patted Garth on the arm as he stood up. "I see ya wised up kid." Clint's rough, city accent cut the air and was in stark contrast to Garth's more rural accent. "Struck out on yer own eh pal?"

"Hasn't been well for me though," Garth responded as he walked down the hallway with Garth. The sounds of a frustrated guard and vendor echoed behind them.

"Yer new is all, these streets ain't easy for young fuzzballs like us kid. Speakin' a' which, ya look a bit on the thin side."

Garth sighed and bit into one of the pieces of fruit. "Was looking for you, and another friend of mine from the orphanage."

"Well, ya found me, and I got my own crew now."

"A crew?"

Clint smirked and nodded, "Yep, found a buddy of mine from the orphanage and made another one here. More of a trio then a crew, I just like the sound of 'crew' more."

Garth laughed lightly at Clint's preference. "Well that sounds interesting and you look like you've been doing a lot better than I have."

"Join my crew pal, an' you'll be gettin' three squares a day an' we'll be on easy street."

"Whatcha guys do?"

Clint shrugged a bit as they walked out a back door. "Small cons, doing some odd jobs, grifting, an' some deliveries for some friends. Really, we ain't picky; just won't do anyone's dirty. Ain't got that kind of muscle an' those kinds of jobs tend ta attract the Guard."

Garth sighed, "I'm not thrilled about doing criminal things Clint... just need ta eat and live long enough to find my other friend..."

"Other friend?" Clint smirked lightly, "Is this friend of yers a gal?"

Garth felt his cheeks turn warm and he looked around nervously. He didn't have to say anything in response.

Clint nearly busted out laughing as they walked down the streets. "Look at you kid, ya got a girl bax you schmoozer; what's the dame's name?"

"Weiss, heh, her name's Weiss, don't know her new name unfortunately."

"She got into a family?"

Garth nodded.

"Lucky gal, a nice one?"

"She said the dad was a scientist of sorts."

Clint whistled, "Now that's a nice set up. That is, if it's one of the big-shot scientists at the CFALR, y'know, the kind that use big words n' stuff."

"Sounded like he was, pretty sure she said he worked for them too."

"She'll be fine bud, if she was picked up by one of them nice families; it won't be too much trouble findin' her."

"You'll help me find her?"

"A' course I will. What kind of pal would I be ta keep ya from yer gal?"

Garth smiled and thanked him as they approached what looked to be an apartment building. The exterior had an old and slightly run-down, but not decrepit look; nor did it seem to be in shambles. "You live here?"

"I helped the landlord out of a pinch an' he lets me an' the boys live in a room near the back fer free."

"How big is your crew?"

"So far I got two pals right now, but I would love it ta be a quartet if yer game."

Garth nodded eagerly, "I'd love to join ya! Sounds like a fun time!"

Clint chuckled and smiled as he opened the front door. "Sure beats living in a box y'know? Say, you still playin'?" He nodded towards the Outlier on Garth's back.

It looked worn from his time on the streets but it was playable. "I am, and I'm gonna be a big star someday! Like Nick Chord!" Garth couldn't help but smile at the thought of rising from poverty and becoming a celebrity.

"An' I will be playin' beside ya pal! Been strumming my Outlier between jobs myself." Clint said as they approached his place and the door slid up. "An' I'd like ya to meet my crew."

"Sure!" Garth responded as he took a few steps down into their residence. The place looked like it was composed of mainly one room. It was rectangular in shape, with the entrance on one of the long sides. On the other long side was a big window and rear door. One of the smaller sides had a bathroom and the other a closet. It was evident the room had been sectioned off by its occupants to give the feel of some privacy among the three. While there was clothes and stuff scattered on the ground and couches/beds, the place didn't feel messy. It felt more like home to Garth than any other place he had been of late.

Clint motioned to a gold-furred lombax with black stripes and blue eyes who was smoking a Pyroll and reading a tabloid. "You find us dinner?" He asked without looking up, "It's yer turn ya know."

"I found a bud of mine from the orphanage." Clint responded, "Garth, this is Tyson, but we call em Gaze."

Gaze looked up from the tabloid and put out his Pyroll and nodded. "Nice meeting you, any friend of Clint's is a pal of mine." Gaze looked to be between Garth and Clint's ages and he wore a pair of lightly torn pants when Garth first met him.

"Why ya called Gaze?"

"Cause he's our scout," Clint answered, "The bax has a good eye."

Gaze smirked wryly, "For the girls that is."

"That's my job," Clint chuckled.

Gaze rolled his eyes, "Sure, sure, ya fur rug. So, what's fer dinner? My gut's sounding like a storm."

Clint tossed Gaze a small sack, "I got sidetracked with my pal here. But I did manage ta swipe ya a little somethin' ta nibble on till we get some real food. Where's Scrapper?"

Gaze chuckled as he took out a piece of food. "Scrapper's working on his latest little toy out back."

"Has he told ya what it is?"

"Not yet, you?"

"Nope, dang fuzzball just likes ta yank my chain," Clint chuckled lightly. "I'll be back soon, gotta have Garth shake hands with Scrapper."

"For sure," Gaze responded as he finished off the piece of food. "Nice havin' ya on the team Garth."

Garth waved and smiled lightly as Clint led him out the back door. "You got a nickname too?"

Clint chuckled as they walked towards a shed. "They call me Favian, like that character in the book? Y'know, the gambler who conned the mob?"

"Well that's fitting," Garth snickered. "I remember when you and I snuck snacks from the cool chest in the orphanage and then convinced the caretaker to eat them with us."

"That was what? Two years ago?" Clint asked with a smirk. "Anyways, Scrapper was actually in our orphanage though ya didn't meet him."

"Oh yeah? Why's he called Scrapper?"

"Because the bax is good at two things, fightin' an' building things from nothin'. He's equal parts brains an' bulk."

Clint knocked on the door frame as they entered and he whistled. "Whatcha workin' on Scrapper?"

Scrapper was of decent height and despite only being only fifteen, the same age as Garth, he was the size of an adult. Not exceedingly tall, but he had a good amount of muscle on his bones as he looked to be tinkering on a workbench. He had dark-blue, almost black fur with silver stripes and green eyes. He looked up and smiled lightly, "Just a small toy is all. Who's yer pal?"

"This is Garth, he was actually in the same orphanage as we were."

"No kiddin'? Well, nice ta meet ya, I'm Conroy but as you heard, I'm known as Scrapper."

"I'm Garth, and I don't have a nickname, yet anyways." He chuckled and shook Scrapper's hand.

"It'll be good ta have ya around. Ya'll curious ta see what I got?"

"Whatcha make this time bud?"

"A more economical, Stun Glove!" Scrapper grinned proudly as he slipped on a black, leather, finger-less glove with the main device on back of the glove. Some wires led from the device to the palm of the hand.

"Ya put enough padding so we don't get shocked? Again?"

Scrapper chuckled, "I made sure to put enough rubber padding this time. Also made it so that the glove shoots a stunning bolt of electricity."

"What's the range?"

"No more than three feet, anything further than that an' the worst thing the target will feel is a sting."

"Not bad Scrapper, what kinda ammo does this toy need?"

"Like I said, it's economical, just need a single Silvo battery to run it. An' those things can be swiped in a pinch."

Clint nodded in approval, "Heck of a lot cheaper den Kyra charges if we need ta buy em."

"You guys planning something?" Garth asked.

"Yeah," Scrapper chimed, "Kipper came by an' wants us fer a job."

"What did the bax want now?" Clint responded, "Kipper helps us get work an' stuff. He's a lightweight in a local gang an' is a bit of a chatter-box but gives decent jobs and pay."

"So you work for the gang?"

Clint shook his head as he, Garth, and Scrapper headed back to their pad. "Naw, Kipper also helps us get work with others outside the mob."

"By the way Clint, you get anything to eat? Was..."

"...My turn, I know. I got caught up helpin' my bud here."

"Ah, well if ya want to get 'em settled, I'll run an' get something."

"Sounds good, I'll pay ya when ya get back."

Scrapper nodded and went out the front door.

"So will I get a nickname too?" Garth asked as he sat down. He suddenly felt the need to impress Clint and his friends, seeing how they were the closest thing to a family he''s had.

"We'll give ya one once the boys get ta know ya better." Clint responded as he lay back on one of the beds/couches. "Fer now, just lie back an' relax. Scrapper will be back an' we'll eat. I'll give Kipper a call an' see what 'e wants."

Weiss sat at the dinner table as she had dinner with her new parents. She smiled as she ate with them and to have a good meal as a part of a family.

Mark sipped some wine, "You need anything dear?"

Weiss thought for a second, "Think you can help me find a friend?"

"Sure, were they in the orphanage?"

She nodded, "Yeah, his name was Garth. He has black fur and no stripes."

"I'll see what I can do, I can see if he can come by and visit."

"That'd be great!"

"Whenever you're ready and settled hon, would you like to meet a potential friend?" Kelly asked, "A good friend of mine has a girl about your age."

"Sure, just might need a day or so."

"Of course, no rush love."

"Wanna talk a walk and see the garden after dinner?" Mark asked, "We just put in some new plants and have a few that still need planting."

"We'll get to plant and grow things?" Weiss smiled widely, "That sounds fun!"

Mark chuckled, "I'll take that as a yes. I know we said this before but, welcome to the family Weiss."

Garth lay back, along with Clint, Scrapper and Gaze. The four bax boys had all eaten quite a bit, mainly in celebration for Garth joining their small gang.

"Aaah... haven't had a meal like that since... well ever really." Garth remarked before belching loudly. "Oops, heh, sorry."

Scrapper then burped twice as big and smirked wryly, "Now that's how it's done."

Clint snickered, "Ya'll are disgustin', besides this is how ya do it." Clint's following belch topped Scrapper's quite easily and he laughed almost as loudly when he finished.

Gaze shook his head with a grin, "You fuzzballs are just like a bunch of kits. What kinda job did Kipper 'ave fer us?"

Clint stretched and his back and joints popped as he did. "Mmm... oh just a simple delivery is all."

"Whatcha delivering?" Garth asked as he sat up.

Clint shrugged, "Ef I 'ad ta guess, probably some Rush."

"Rush? You mean Axen?"

"That's te one."

Garth whistled, "That's some nasty stuff! I've seen Sniffers who use that stuff, long Sniffers look like they died."

"Might as well be, their brains are mostly mush after a few years on the stuff." Gaze added. "Want me ta take the new guy on the run?"

Clint nodded, "It's the usual run so sure. He needs ta see how it's done."

Garth gulped nervously. He had to do it if he wanted to stay with his friends, but he'd never really done any kind of real, serious crime before.

So I must say, I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. I dunno, it feels more realistic compared to most of my other stories.

Doesn't mean I don't enjoy writing them, just that this one seems to strike a chord with me.

Anyways, hope you all like it, and tell me what you think!

Stay tuned! I'm gonna start working on the last chapter of Alter!