[SOMEWHERE IN NEVADA…]

It's a red night in Nevada after the events of the 'Inundation'. Everything has gone wrong for everyone.

Hank failed in killing Tricky and had to run away.

Auditor lost the halo in the fight against Jebus.

Jebus couldn't destroy the improbability device.

And Tricky hasn't had his fun since Hank escaped.

Neither the Auditor's plan nor the Madness were solved or finished, they will only last longer…

Hank managed to escape Tricky, running into a snowing city.

He just walks around searching for any place he can find medical kits for his wounds.

He looks around, the place looks abandoned and severely raided and destroyed. Not a rare sight in Nevada, but it's surprisingly empty.

Soon, he finds a house that seems less raided. Out of options, he enters the house. The house seems oddly conserved and well-kept compared to the others.

Hank shrugs and goes to the bathroom searching for some first aid kits or at least bandages so he can patch his wounds up.

He manages to find bandages and covers himself. He really got injured after all that shit Tricky made him pass through, but he just sighs and tries to think on his next step.

The S.Q needs him to kill the Auditor, but in his situation it will be close to impossible, especially if that clown is out there.

In the middle of his thinking, he hears some steps coming from outside the bathroom. He shakes the thoughts off and waits for whoever is outside to approach.

When he senses the person is close enough, he bursts out of the bathroom, kicking the person's stomach and pinning them against the wall. He grips the person's neck, ready to kill them.

Before he could do so, the person uses a flashbang, stunning Hank and breaking free of his grip. They manage to crawl away a little before Hank gets out of his stunned state.

As Hank regains his senses, he notices the person is rather... small... more likely a child.

Hank shakes his head, walks up to them and steps on their leg, making them groan in pain and pinning them in place. Hank points a gun at the person's head.

They cough before saying with a young-male voice that shows anger, yet no sign of fear. "Before you shoot me, I'm not with A.A.H.W, and I have no interest in killing you. So I ask nicely to you step out of me and allow me to introduce myself."

Hank looks at the boy in a hint of surprise. He doesn't remember seeing kids in Nevada, let alone people who are not afraid of him. It makes Hank curious. He steps off the boy's leg but keeps pointing the gun at them. "Go ahead."

The boy pants a little before sitting up and regaining his breath. "Dammit…" He looks at Hank. "You… you're quite the brute, y'know?" Seeing that Hank had no reaction, the boy rolls his eyes. "... Name's Loid. I was hiding here." Loid slowly gets up leaning on the wall. "I'm not going to fight you. I might be young, but I'm not naive nor stupid enough to attack you." He groans a little and stands properly. "I know you, everyone does. Just take whatever you want and leave me alone."

Hank stares Loid in silence, judging if he should or not shoot this kid. "... What do you mean?"

Loid sighs and shakes his head. "It's simple. You came here to get resources. I have resources. I'm trading my resources for my life. Got it?"

Hank keep staring at Loid, but lowers his gun. "... So you're just letting me take whatever I want if I let you live?"

"Precisely. I have no chances against you, and I like to practice an activity called 'not dying'."

"... You know, cowardice won't take you anywhere."

The boy huffs. "It's not 'cowardice', I just know when to not fight, and YOU are the best example of someone to not fight and just play dead."

Hank nods and walks towards Loid, sizing the kid up and down. "… Well, who would have thought that a kid is smarter than most grunts out there."

Loid sighs, both annoyed and careful. "Whatever… The supplies are in the kitchen."

Hank nods and moves towards the kitchen, making sure to be careful at every corner. The kitchen is filled with drawers, a sink, a small fridge and some cabinets. Hank searches in the cabinets for any sign of food. He manages to find some canned food that he eats without a second thought.

After eating, he leans at the sink and says with a sharp tone. "Y'know, I don't like being stared at all."

Loid, who was staring at him from the doorway, just shrugs. "And I don't like having my place looted and I'm not complaining."

Hank turns around and glances at him. "Kiddo, didn't anyone teach you to not respond to adults?"

The boy rolls his eyes. "No."

The killer groans. He takes a bag and puts several canned foods and water.

Loid approaches Hank with crossed arms, sizing him up. "Done. You took my stuff. Now go away."

Hank rolls his eyes. This kid was actually defiant. He is annoyed and amused at the same time by this kid. But before they could proceed with the talking, a voice came from outside the house.

"Hey! We know you're hiding in there! Get out or else your death will be certain!"

Hank clenches his fists. He can't believe they found him so quickly and can't think of how it could happen.

"And be aware," The voice continues. "We will not tolerate any kind of resistance coming from you! So better get out of there, kiddo!"

Hank raises an eyebrow in surprise. He was expecting to be him the searched one, not the Loid. Why would anyone seek a kid?

Loid just sighs. "Oh great, they just found me..."

Hank keeps staring at the boy and asks. "Why would they want to kill a kid like you?"

Loid shrugs. "I snuck into one of their best weapon storage and picked some of their stuff for me… I don't regret."

Hank glances at Loid, his eyes narrowing behind his goggles. He holsters his gun but keeps his hand close to it, always prepared for a fight. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, kid. Maybe both."

"It's Nevada. Gotta do what you can to survive. Besides, their security was a joke."

Hank shakes his head, though a small part of him can't help but respect the audacity. "I take it you've got something useful then, if they're this pissed off."

"You could say that. I've got blueprints of some stuff and I took the creative freedom to mess with them at my will."

Hank looks with a slightly impressed look. Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from the front door, followed by the unmistakable sound of boots storming in from the backs. The A.A.H.W. soldiers have begun their assault.

"Guess it's work time." Hank mutters, drawing his gun once more.

As Hank fights the soldiers that come from the front door, Loid goes for the ones in the back. He gets cover behind a wall and pulls a revolver from his pocket. The revolver is really, really modified.

When Loid shoots one of the soldiers, the bullet doesn't pierce their skin, but causes a great impact instead, making a huge crater on the soldier's body and launching them backwards.

He shoots the other agents, killing them rather quickly. As Hank kills his part of the agents, he walks up to Loid. He notices the craters on the corpses of the agents Loid killed. "... what happened to them."

Loid flips his revolver on his hand. "Impact revolver. It's very interesting. Instead of piercing skin, it causes an impact, strong enough to cause a crater on the target's body. I made it myself with the junk I took from A.A.H.W. Cool, no?"

"Huh… Yeah, very cool…" Hank snatches the revolver from Loid's hand and tests it on his own.

Loid huffs annoyed. "I said you could take anything, but you're seriously taking one of my guns? It was hard to make it."

"Too bad." Hank turns the revolver in his hand, feeling the weight and balance. He inspects the modifications, impressed by the sheer destructive potential packed into such a small weapon. "How the hell did a kid like you come up with this?"

Loid shrugs. "I just had to learn some mechanics, engineering and weaponry. It's impressive how people can work in desperate situations."

Hank nods, impressed by the kid's abilities. "You know all of that? Like, for real?"

"Yeah. I can make guns, modify them, rebuild them, and modify vehicles."

Hank nods once again, impressed. He looks around the place. Bodies of agents and blood all over the place. "... There are probably more of them coming, and I'm not going to stay here to be catched." Hank looks to Loid. "You're coming with me, kid."

Loid widens his eyes. He looked around like this was some kind of prank. "... excuse me?"

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Hank says annoyed. "You said you make guns and repair vehicles. I could use someone like you in my hideout."

Loid sighs and shakes his head. "No, thanks by the offer. I'm going off to my own corner."

Loid tries to walk away, but feels Hank grip on his arm. The killer says in a deep, menacing voice. "I don't remember giving you a choice."

They stare at each other for a few seconds. Hank has a threatening glance under his red goggles, but Loid keeps a defiant look, making Hank slightly impressed.

After some thinking, Loid huffs. "Ugh... fine. I can't fight you even if I wanted. I'll go with you, but first let go of my arm."

Hank stares Loid for a few seconds before letting his arm go. The boy rolls his eyes and gestures Hank to follow him. He guides them to the garage, turning on the lights to show a really modified car.

Hank approaches the car and nods his head. "You did it yourself?"

Loid nods, grabbing a bag full of weapons on his workbench. "Yeah, I did. And before you ask, I know how to drive. But since you're the one taking me to the hideout, you're the driver this time." He put the bag inside the car and sits on the passenger seat, waiting for Hank.

Hank looks at Loid with amusement. This kid had a lot of courage to talk to him like that. That's almost admirable to Hank.

The killer gets into the car, turning it on and pressing the accelerator, driving at high speed outside this goddamn city.

[TO BE CONTINUED]