It took a while to get this one done, with school and all; but I think it turned out pretty well; I kinda wanted to wait for that lore video that Bisnap's making to write it, but I finally just decided I might as well. It's my story, I'll do what I want.


Melting's POV

I eyed her with caution as she slowly made her way over towards us. My gaze was drawn to a certain feature on her face that we hadn't been able to observe before, her eye. While one of them was covered over by a single bandage, the other glowed a radiant green. I marked that down to ask about later; last I checked, humans don't have illuminating body parts.

She sat down, groaning slightly as she attempted to find a comfortable sitting position. Crystal took a seat next to her. Fish sighed slightly, rubbing the back of his head; the three of us looked at him.

"So... I figure names are a good as place as any to start. You don't have to tell us your real one if you don't feel safe doing so. I've been going by Fish, and I'm sure you can guess where I got that one. Her-" He pointed at Crystal; "-name is Crystal." Said mutant gave a little smile and wave to the human sitting next to her, which she nervously returned. "And the big grump over there-" He made a gesture towards myself; "-is Melting. Or at least we call him that, since he can't remember his actual name." I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.,

"Excuse me if I've had a few too many of you guys nearly shoot me in the head. It gets old after the third or fourth time." Fish bit his lip, a slight silence hanging in the air for a few moments before he broke it; turning his attention back to the human.

"...anyway. So, what's your name then? Or at least something we can refer to you by?" She looked down, wrapping her arms around her bunched up knees. After a minute or two, she responded.

"You can call me Rebel. Fits with the theme of your names anyway." What she decided on struck me as odd.

"Rebel...? Does that mean-" She cut me off.

"Yes. Stop getting your damn panties in a bunch thinking I'm one of those backstabbing bastards." I was at a loss for words, so Crystal decided to try instead.

"Um... I think we're getting off topic here. You were going to tell us about yourself?" She looked back up, nodding.

"Alright. I suppose I might as well, considering you saved my life. I am Rebel, and as the name implies, I am an EX-IDPD member. The IDPD's mission as an organization is to keep other timelines and parallel dimensions from interfering with ours." The shock that was from her statement was blatant through the three of us. "What this means should be pretty obvious; I am not from this timeline, nor are any of the IDPD. We originate from a timeline where the apocalypse did not occur." I finally worked up the nerve to speak.

"But what do us mutants have to do with your timeline?!" She held her hand up, signaling for me to be silent.

"Nothing, normally. But a new development has come up of late. We have found there to be a power in this timeline that has more than enough energy to completely change the course of many timelines adjacent to this one; if used for that purpose. Even travel between them. That, in the eyes of the department, is a major threat. So far, we have not been able to locate it, and every time we think we've gotten a lock on it, it moves. As such, the department has instead resolved to kill anything and everything on their way towards it." Fish's eyes widened.

"The Throne!" Rebel, who had been about to continue talking, stopped to look at Fish.

"The what?" Fish stood up, suddenly excited by something.

"The Throne! The thing every mutant is trying to reach!" Crystal seemed to realize what he meant.

"Oh! That's right!" Rebel was no less confused by their sudden enthusiasm.

"Are you saying you know what the power source is?"

After a short explanation of what the Throne was and the legend behind it, Rebel nodded slowly, looking off to the side.

"Yes... that seems to match what we've been searching for..." She glanced up at us. "And you say you three are on your way to it as well? For what purpose?" Fish looked up at the sky.

"We're going to use the power it provides to bring order to the inhabitants of the wasteland. There might have been a time when people could be reasoned with; when you could use nothing but common sense to convince others to cooperate. That time has long passed. The mutants of the wasteland can only be brought to some sort of civil state by a greater power keeping them in line." She seemed to be shocked at his words, before regaining her composure.

"That's... surprisingly noble of you." Crystal cleared her throat, getting our attention.

"You know, you still haven't told us about you. What happened that you decided to quit?" Rebel gritted her teeth, her gaze drifting off to the side.

"Ah... yes. About that. It wasn't so much my choice, as it were."

-1 year ago-

It was just another mission. We were simply finishing up the targets we'd been assigned for that day. That might sound heartless; but that's all they were to us. Mindless mutated freaks; killing machines, that we were eliminating for the safety of our families back home. I found myself alone, having told the others that I'd get the last straggler myself. When I finally found it... no-her, after rounding a corner... It cracked something inside of me. There she lay, battered and broken on the ground. She looked vaguely human, the only mutation she had sustained being a third arm, very short and stubby. Her own blood pooled below her, soaking into the tattered rags she wore as clothing.

I fought the urge to retch, stepping closer and closer. I held my gun tightly in my grip, every foot I came closer revealing another gash in her side, or bone jutting awkwardly out of her skin. By the time I'd finally made it to her mutilated body, she had noticed me. Her glassy eyes slowly made their way towards my face. Her expression grew into one of pure unadulterated hatred. She said two words, and I haven't forgotten them since.

"Y-you... monster." It was right then, and right there, that I knew I couldn't do it. Even as I aimed the gun at her head, finger on the trigger, my hands shook like there was an earthquake going on. I took the med-pack off of my back, and injected her with one of the healing serums. Her injuries started repairing themselves right in front of my eyes. She was surprised at my actions; speechless even. I lifted her off the ground, into a sitting position. As I rose from kneeling, I gave her a small nod, placing her weapon back in her arms.

"I can't make up for what we've done. None of us can. But I can try." I turned around, going to walk away."I'd run. They'll be after you again soon. And it won't be me next time." And with that, I went on my way.

When I got back to the group,most of them had already gone back. Only the inspector and captain of our squad remained, waiting for me. He gave me a pat on the back, saying the rest of the squad had expressed their gratitude for offering to finish the task myself. I nodded blankly, as I walked through the radiation detector set up in front of the portal home. And I could have never predicted what happened next.

It started beeping.

Anyone that had been previously talking went completely silent. I froze. There was a long period of time where no one said anything. The captain then spoke.

"_. Take off your helmet." I took a deep breath. And then I did as I was told.

The two of them inhaled sharply. I didn't know why, but from their reactions, it wasn't good.

"...what's wrong?" The captain looked at me somberly.

"Your... your eye is glowing. You've been irradiated." My heart stopped. I didn't know what to say. "...alright. Protocol says that we're supposed to... to terminate anyone who is infected." My eyes widened, as I reached for my gun; but he stopped me, putting his hand up. "BUT... I've always had a sweet spot for you, hun." He turned to the inspector. "You will speak of this to no one. This will be our secret. Do you understand me?" The solider nodded, giving a 'yes sir!' and a curt nod. The captain nodded back, slowly; his eyes drifting back onto me. "Girl, you will run. Get away from here. I'll tell the squad that you were killed in a tragic accident, that you saved both of our lives; and you'll be honored as a great solider. You will survive. That's the most I can do for you at this point." I swallowed, my throat feeling tighter and tighter by the second. I nodded, placing my helmet back on.

I turned around; and ran. I didn't look back.


Flashbacksssss; they're suprisingly enjoyable to write. It's part of why this chapter turned out so long.