Chapter 2: The Child
Greetings and happy new year everyone. Tardispilot297 here bringing you another chapter of Godzilla: New Dawn. I hope everyone had a good 2021 and are just as hopeful for 2022 as I am.
Once again I would like to point out that I do not own Godzilla in any way. The only thing I claim is that the old films made my early childhood pretty damn spectacular. Anyway without further ado let's get started.
The sun was barely visible over the horizon when the town sheriff stepped through the doorway to the bar. He stood in the middle of the room wearing a brown jacket and stetson as he looked around the place.
When he had gotten the call about a brawl at the bar he was expecting to see the usual aftermath with a few bits of broken furniture and one or two drunks with busted up faces leaning against the counter. Instead he bore witness to what looked like a bloody massacre.
A few bodies were covered with white blankets which were stained red with blood in the middle. Broken pieces of wood and blood stains covered the floor. As the sheriff pushed his hat back a bit with his index finger he let out a tired sigh.
Sheriff: Now let me see if I got this right. Martz and a couple of his boys get a bit rowdy and start bothering some young girl sitting at this table here.
He gestures over to the overturned table before looking at the small bloody dent in the bar.
Sheriff: Then some stranger comes up, grabs Martz and slams his face into the bar there. Martz then loses consciousness, hits the floor and everyone in the bar starts to rush the stranger and all hell breaks loose.
The sheriff stepped up to the ax laying on the floor before kneeling down to examine the bloody blade.
Sheriff: And you're telling me just one guy took on half a dozen people without so much as a scratch on him?
He looked over at the bartender who stood behind the counter with his arms crossed.
Bartender: It's just as I told you Lucius. This guy comes walking in looking to fill his canteen with water. Next thing I know he's ripping through fellas like they were paper.
Lucius stands back up and looks around at the corpses before tipping his hat to the bartender and heading out the door. He walked down the road to the sheriff station. He walked in through the wooden doors into the main office passing by the front desk.
A few of the deputies were sitting at one of the desks with one of them wrapping a bandage around the other's hand.
Lucius: Evening Betty, how are things going here?
Betty: Evening Lucius. All's quiet for now.
Lucius: What happened to John's hand?
Betty: One of the perps got a bit fussy as we were checking their belongings. Nearly broke John's hand right off.
Lucius looks over at the holding cell that was occupied by Martz holding a cloth to his face and a few others who looked beaten to a pulp.
Lucius: One of those fellas?
Betty: No the other one. The stranger that ripped into them.
Lucius: And where's he?
John: Barney's got him in the isolation tank.
Lucius: Why'd you stick him in there?
Betty: It was Barney's idea. Talk to him.
Lucius then walked down the hall to where Barney was sitting in a chair with a shotgun in his hands in front of a metal door with a tiny square window.
Lucius: Hey Barney.
Barney: Hey sheriff.
Barney stood up as Lucius walked up to see through the window. He looked in to see the Wanderer sitting at a table with his hands cuffed to the table.
Lucius: So that's our one man wrecking crew huh?
Barney: Yep. Some drifter fresh off the highway.
Lucius: Doesn't look like much.
Barney: Yeah well according to eyewitness reports he single handedly killed about three or four people without breaking a sweat.
Lucius: Is that right? And I hear that he did a number on John a few minutes ago.
Barney: Well that's the weird part. Before he was nothing but cooperative, then as we were checking his belongings he suddenly got defensive and I had to break out one of the shotguns here and point it at his head to get him to calm down.
Lucius: Is that right? And where are his belongings now?
Barney: They're stored in lock up.
Lucius: Show me.
Barney put the shotgun down next to the chair and led Lucius towards the lock up where they kept b prisoners belongings. Barney grabbed the Wanderer's backpack and started rifling through it. He took out the orange container and held it out to Lucius.
Barney: This is what our friend in there didn't want us messing with.
Lucius took it and opened it up to see the set of insulin shots lined up in a row. He took one out to examine it closely. He seemed to almost recognize it before putting it back in the container and closing it back up.
Barney: So what do you think they are?
Lucius: I haven't the slightest idea. Has he said anything yet?
Barney: Not since we brought him in.
A few moments later Lucius went inside the isolation tank to sit down across from the Wanderer. He took off his hat and placed it on the table.
Lucius: So… care to talk about what happened at the bar this afternoon?
The Wanderer sat silently not answering. Lucius then placed the orange container on the table and pushed it toward the Wanderer.
Lucius: What about this? Maybe you'd like to talk about this?
The Wanderer stayed silent.
Lucius pulled the container back to him and opened it up.
Lucius: You know a lot of folks don't remember much about the days when KKs first showed up. Except of course the fact that you could recognize them by a specific discoloration in the eyes on account of their mutated genes. Course at one time the government came up with a type of "medicine" as they called it that repressed those genes.
Lucius took out one of the insulin shots and held it up looking it over.
Lucius: Most of the time they came in shots just like this one. Just one shot and the eye color would change to resemble that of an ordinary human. It would also help in preventing further physical mutations in most KKs.
Lucius looked right at the Wanderer and held the shot out to him. The Wanderer looked at it for a moment and started to slowly reach for it only for Lucius to pull it back away from him still looking him in the eye. After a few moments Lucius handed it back to him and let him take it. The Wanderer leaned forward and tried to inject the shot in his neck only to be stopped by the handcuffs attached to the table.
Lucius got up and walked around the table and held his hand out for the Wanderer to place the shot in it. Lucius then moved the Wanderer's shirt collar to expose his neck and inject him. The Wanderer leaned his head to make it easier for him. He winced a bit before relaxing a little by removing his goggles. Lucius went back to his seat and sat back down.
Lucius: I had a grandson that used to have to take those same shots.
Wanderer: What happened to him?
Lucius: Got jumped by a couple of punks that were looking for KKs on the street. Bashed his skull in with a bunch of pipes.
Wanderer: I remember learning about those. Groups of people that hunted down KKs to "cleanse" the world of their imperfections.
Lucius: More like Lynch mobs if you ask me. That's why I became the sheriff of this town so that something like that never happens again.
Wanderer: That's very noble.
Lucius: Which brings me back to what happened at the bar.
Wanderer: I was just defending myself. That's all.
Lucius: That may be. But the fact remains you killed a few people. And around here we don't take kindly to murder.
Wanderer: Don't take kindly to KKs either if the local shopkeeper has to check people's eyes.
Lucius: Well to be fair most KKs aren't as kindly as most folks.
Lucius closed the orange container and stood up.
Lucius: Look I'm not saying you're like most KKs in fact I heard about how that fight started from you protecting a little girl. Unfortunately most folks won't see it that way and as sheriff it's my job to make sure nobody takes the law into their own hands.
Wanderer: So where does that leave us?
Lucius: Well as far as folks are concerned you're just some outsider who killed a bunch of people in a bar brawl gone out of hand. As such you'll be confined to jail for no less than five years. And that's exactly all they need to know.
Wanderer: I'm not sure how to thank you.
Lucius: Don't. Just keep that temper of yours in check and don't cause anymore trouble.
The Wanderer sat silently as Lucius walked out and called for Barney to take the Wanderer to an empty cell. Barney walked in and took the handcuffs off his wrists and escorted him to another cell in the back. The Wanderer stood I'm the cell before looking over at the bed against the wall. He walked over and sat down sweeping his hand against the roughness of the blanket.
He laid his head against the pillow. And while it was a little hard it was certainly an upgrade from sleeping on the ground for the past few years. He started to close his eyes when he heard someone whisper to him through the window of his cell. He looked over and saw the girl from before gesturing for him to come up to the window. The Wanderer checked to make sure no one was looking and walked up to the window.
Wanderer: What are you doing here?
Girl: Well for starters I wanted to thank you for saving my ass before. You really mopped the floor with those creeps. Though in the future you may want to dial down the brutal killing a bit.
Wanderer: I'll be sure to keep that in mind the next time someone tries to kill me.
Girl: Ah sarcasm. And here I thought you were just some brute.
Wanderer: Look kid, is there another point to you being here?
Girl: Ohhh right well I know you already saved me but I was hoping that you could help me with something else.
Wanderer: What? You piss off another bunch of drunks?
Girl: Heh. No nothing like that I was wondering if you could help me travel up north?
The Wanderer looked at her confused.
Wanderer: Excuse me?
Girl: North? It's like the South but in the opposite direction.
Wanderer: I know what North is. And even if I wasn't currently in prison why would I take you there?
Girl: Oh yeah there is that.
She thought for a moment before speaking again.
Girl: Ok I'll make you a deal, I help break you out and then you help me get up north.
Wanderer: And how exactly are you going to break me out?
Girl: Let me worry about that. But do we have a deal?
The Wanderer looked at her with suspicion. His instincts were once again shouting at him that there was something dangerous about this girl but he had no idea why. Then again it wasn't like he had anything to lose given his current circumstances and held his hand out to her for her to shake. A smile grew on her face as she took his hand and shook it excitedly.
Girl: Then it's a deal. Just hang tight and I'll have you out of there in no time. Oh my name's Jaime by the way. What's yours?
Before the Wanderer could answer one of the deputies could be heard walking down the hall. This prompted him to head back onto the bed and Jamie to drop out of sight. Betty walked up to the bars carrying a tray of food. She placed it halfway through the slot in the door and announced chow time. The Wanderer got up and walked over to take it. He thanked her which surprised her for a moment but she just shrugged it off and walked away. The Wanderer looked at his meal and sat down on the bed to eat.
Night fell and the Wanderer did his best to get some sleep until he heard the slight jangling of keys in the cell door lock. He turned his head to face the door and saw Jaime opening the cell and standing in the doorway.
Jaime: Come on, let's go.
Wanderer: How'd you get the keys?
Jaime: I swiped em off the guy with the bandaged up hand out front. Boy can that guy snore.
Wanderer: Hmm. Not bad kid.
The Wanderer and Jaime then went over to the lock up to collect his stuff. They then carefully snuck past John asleep at his desk. As they made it outside the sounds of vehicles could be heard coming from up the road. Jaime took one look at them and quickly grabbed the Wanderer's arm and pulled him off to the side of one of the buildings. The vehicles stopped in the middle of town and a group of people started to get out.
Each one of them exhibiting a physical mutation from jagged teeth to pigmented skin. One of them was a large man with lobster like claws for hands while another was a disfigured man covering his mouth with a gas mask. The Wanderer could tell just by looking at them that they were trouble.
Jaime: Ohhh crap.
Wanderer: Friends of yours?
Jaime: Uhhhh not exactly. Listen, we need to get out of here. Where's your ride?
Wanderer: It's over in front of that shop over there.
The Wanderer pointed over at the chopper still parked in front of the shop.
Jaime: A bike really?
Wanderer: You got a better idea?
Jaime looked around and spotted an old truck parked nearby.
Jaime: Over there. That looks like a good ride. I'll hotwire it and we can get out of here.
Wanderer: You can hotwire a truck?
Jaime: Well more or less. But I'm sure it'll be fine.
Wanderer: Alright I'll meet you over there.
Jaime: Wait where are you going?
Wanderer: There's something I need to get.
Jaime tried to ask him what but he was already making his way to the shop. Meanwhile with the group of KKs they were beginning to walk around the town causing the people to become nervous with a few heading back inside from fear. Jaime did her best not to get spotted and snuck her way to the truck.
Inside the bar most of the mess had been cleaned up with Lucius sitting at the bar having a drink. The big guy and the disfigured guy walked into the bar with a few of their group and looked around. Lucius turned around to look at them. He stood up as the group walked further in prompting a number of patrons to get up from their seats and leave.
Lucius: Evening fellas. Just passing through?
Lobster: Relax old man. We're just here looking for someone is all.
Lucius: And just who might that be?
Lobster: We're looking for a little kid about yeah high, black hair, has a bit of an attitude. Ring any bells?
Lucius: Sorry. Can't say that I have.
The large guy walked around Lucius towering over him.
Lobster: Are you sure about that? Cause I know for a fact that she would've passed through this dirt ball of a town very recently. So I suggest you think long and hard about whether or not you've seen her.
Lucius: I told you I haven't seen anyone like that. And I'll thank you not to recklessly throw threats in my "dirt ball of a town".
The Large guy then started to belly laugh, inciting laughter from the rest of his gang. He then placed a Claw onto Lucius' right shoulder.
Lobster: Maybe I'm not making myself clear to you old man. I'm going to count to ten and I'd better get at least some information about where she is and if I don't…
He began to squeeze his claw causing a cracking sound to be heard as Lucius clutching his shoulder groaning in pain. A few of the large guy's gang then took out guns and pointed them at some of the other remaining people. Lucius fell to his knees as blood began to trickle down his arm.
Lobster: Me and my boys here will start slaughtering every filthy human in sight. Starting with the ones inside this bar. Now I'm going to ask one more time… where's the girl?
Meanwhile at the shop the Wanderer managed to convince the shop owner to hand over his walkman back. Albeit with his gun aimed at him. The shopkeeper went as fast as he could to unhook the walkman from the charging station. Once it was unhooked he wasted no time returning it to the Wanderer.
Wanderer: Again I'm really sorry about this.
The Wanderer placed the walkman back in his pack.
Wanderer: You can tell them I forced you.
The Wanderer lowered his gun and went outside to get to the chopper. Whatever was currently happening he wanted no part in it. He quietly kicked up the kickstand and began slowly pushing the chopper down the street. He then heard a scream which caused him to turn around and see one of the KK thugs dragging a struggling Jaime out of the driver's seat of the truck.
KK thug: I got her Eddie! I got…
Jaime bit the thug's hand causing him to cry out in pain but still maintaining his grip. He threw her to the ground and clutched his hand. Jamie tried to get up and run only to be cut off by a sudden stream of black acid blocking her path. She looked where the stream came from and saw the disfigured KK with his gas mask lowered and his mouth dripping with black liquid. She then looked around to see the others surrounding her with guns aimed at her.
Eddie then stepped out of the bar dragging Lucius along with him before dropping him in the doorway. Eddie looked at Jaime with a sneer.
Eddie: Hello Jaime, so good to see you again.
Jaime: Can't say the feelings mutual you walking seafood platter.
Eddie: You've given us a lot of trouble having to chase you down all this time. But now I'm gonna enjoy pinching your fucking little head off. Bring her here.
One of the thugs walked up and grabbed her arm causing her to instinctively bring her hand to their face to scratch at them. The thug cried out in pain but instead of the scratch it was from her hand touching their face that brought on tremendous pain. They let go clutching their face and falling backwards onto the ground. They started writhing in pain until the pain started to fade. The thug started to get back up and with some assistance from two others who instantly backed away from them in shock.
The thug was confused until they started feeling out their face and began to panic. They turned around where everyone saw that their face now looked more human than before. This caused everyone to become shocked and immediately look back at Jaime who looked at her own hands before looking back at everyone. The remaining thugs instantly pointed their guns at her while keeping their distance from her.
Eddie: What the hell are you?
Suddenly a loud sound started to roar towards Eddie as he turned just in time to see a chopper coming straight at him and impacting dead on into him sending him flying through the air. The other KKs looked to where the chopper came from only for one of them to get shot in the head by the Wanderer who began shooting his pistol hitting two more of them.
Jaime instantly ran to cover while the other KKs started shooting back. The Wanderer ducked behind one of their vehicles only coming up to start shooting. He managed to kill two more before the disfigured KK lowered his gas mask and started to spew another stream of acid at him. The Wanderer rolled out of the way and fired at him, hitting him right in the shoulder sending him to the ground.
The Wanderer then took out his machete and rushed forward, slashing another KK across the chest and grabbing him to use as a shield from the gunfire of the remaining two. He moved up and waited for them to run out of ammo before dropping the corpse and decapitating another KK. He looked to the last one who dropped his gun and started making a run for it. The Wanderer walked out onto the street and raised his pistol taking aim at the thug. He took a deep breath aiming carefully until he pulled the trigger hitting the thug in the back. They cried out before dropping dead onto the ground.
The Wanderer lowered his gun and turned his head a bit to look behind him. There Eddie was lying there with the damaged chopper on top of him. Oil leaked onto the ground around him as he struggled to get back up. The Wanderer raised his gun and fired at the bike's engine causing it to explode in a ball of fire.
The Wanderer put away his pistol and turned to walk away back to Jaime who was helping Lucius get back up on his feet. She looked at him with a smile on her face which quickly changed to fear as she yelled at him to look out. The Wanderer turned around only to get grabbed by the throat by one of Eddie's claws. Eddie stood there with most of his clothes tattered and burned to reveal his body completely covered with red armor plating.
The Wanderer grasped at his pincers trying to pry himself loose. Eddie just snickered and started to squeeze harder slowly cracking the bones in the Wanderer's neck. The Wanderer struggled seemingly in vain as Eddie lifted him off the ground and slammed him hard into the dirt. The Wanderer gasped in pain but continued to try and break free from Eddie's claw.
Eddie: For a human you don't quit easily. I like that. Makes it that more fun when I break you in two.
Eddie twisted his claw causing a loud snap to be heard and the Wanderer eventually stopped moving and went limp. Eddie let go and looked down at the Wanderer chuckling to himself.
Eddie: Guess you weren't so tough after all.
He then kicked the side of his body and turned back to Jaime with a murderous glare.
Eddie: And as for you you little freak! I'm gonna enjoy tearing you apart. Piece by piece.
He snapped his pincers as if to emphasize his threat and started walking towards her and Lucius. Lucius managed to get to his feet and drew his gun to start firing at Eddie. The bullets ricocheted off his shell as he continued forward. Lucius kept firing until his gun ran out of bullets with Eddie towering over him. Eddie raised his arm and swung it into Lucius who was sent flying into a wall. Jaime started to run with Eddie keeping his eyes on her. He went over to one of the vehicles and grabbed it with his pincers lifting it up above his head. He turned toward the direction Jaime was running and heaved the vehicle right at her.
Jaime kept running until she tripped and fell on the ground. She looked up and the vehicle flying right at her and screamed at the top of her lungs. A gust of wind whooshed by Eddie as the vehicle landed with a large crash kicking up a cloud of dust. Eddie stood there shielding his eyes as the dust began to settle. He lowered his arm expecting to see a smashed up vehicle on top of Jaime's crushed bloody corpse. Instead what he saw surprised him beyond measure.
Jaime laid on the ground with her eyes shut when she started to slowly open them to see that she wasn't crushed. Instead the vehicle hung over her with the Wanderer having caught it with his bare hands. She lay there surprised as the Wanderer struggled with holding it up with blood dripping from his mouth. Using his newfound strength he tossed the vehicle to the side and let out a short breath. He then glared at Eddie with his eyes glowing a dim blue and his breathing turned hot and heavy.
Eddie stood there shocked at not only seeing the Wanderer still alive but also at his subtle transformation.
Eddie: Th-this is impossible! How could a mere human be capable of something like this!? Just who are you!?
The Wanderer planted his feet firmly on the ground and tightly clenched his fists. Behind him Jaime noticed a small blue glow start to build up through his jacket and up his back towards his head. At the same time the Wanderer opened his mouth which started to glow as well from the back of his throat and took a large intake of air leaning his head backwards and facing the sky.
When he reached straight up he quickly threw his upper body forward unleashing a massive energy blast from his mouth. The large stream of energy flew down the road right at Eddie who could only shriek out with his arms raised trying to shield himself until his body became engulfed by it. The blast continued right down the road until it reached the other side of town. The blast eventually died down leaving a small heated trench along the ground in its wake. The Wanderer's body began to shake as the glow dimmed and went dark from him. He stood there panting heavily before eventually stumbling forward and falling face down on the ground.
His senses blurred as he began to lose consciousness. The last thing he saw was the blurry image of Jaime kneeling next to him yelling at him. And placing her hand on his shoulder. Then his vision went dark and exhaustion overtook him.
He later started to stir as his eyes slowly opened as the sun shined through a nearby window. He lay in a bed and tried to sit up only to be bombarded by extreme soreness causing him to wince and hiss. Bandages covered his chest and throat as he brushed his hand over his ribs. He looked around to see that he was inside what looked like a bedroom.
What really got his attention however was how human he still looked. He looked around and spotted a wall mirror in the room. He winced as he slowly got out of bed to walk over to the mirror. He looked at himself, paying extra attention to his eyes. He saw that they looked normal again and lacked any traces of discoloration.
He suddenly heard footsteps approaching the door which caused him to jump and turn his head. He quickly went up against the wall next to the door waiting for it to open. As it opened halfway he grabbed the person walking through from behind and slammed them against the wall, jamming his right elbow into their throat. He relaxed a little however when he recognized that it was Lucius.
Lucius: Damn son, maybe I should've knocked first.
The Wanderer let Lucius go and backed away.
Wanderer: Sorry. It's instinctual.
Lucius: Hey I get it. How's the ribs?
Wanderer: I've had worse. How's the shoulder?
Lucius: Eh. It's just a scratch.
Lucius had his arm in a sling with bandages covering his shoulder.
Wanderer: So how long was I out?
Lucius: You've been asleep for about twelve hours now. Though frankly after the beat down you took I'm surprised you can even stand.
Wanderer: I've always been a fast healer.
Lucius: Yeah I can see that.
The Wanderer started to undo the bandages to reveal only a few light bruises remaining. He went over to his pack that was sitting in the corner and took out his shirt to put on over his chest.
Wanderer: How about Jaime? Is she OK?
Lucius: You mean the girl?
Wanderer: Yeah.
Lucius: Haven't seen her. I thought she might've been in here since she wouldn't leave your side for a minute last night.
Wanderer: She was here?
Lucius: Yeah. Even insisted on helping to dress your wounds.
Wanderer: I see.
The Wanderer remembered what happened to that KK Jaime touched and how they changed. Which made him come to realize what caused him to look human without the injection. Whatever she did apparently affected him as well.
He stood quietly for a moment before grabbing his jacket to put on. He looked over the rest of his things in his pack.
Lucius: If you're worried about whether anything is missing, don't worry. It's all there. Even that container of yours not that it looks like you need it right now.
The Wanderer remained silent and gathered the rest of his stuff and started to head out of the room.
Wanderer: Thank you for your hospitality and understanding.
Lucius: Hold up there son.
The Wanderer stopped in his tracks and turned back toward Lucius.
Lucius: Come on. I wanna show you something.
The Wanderer followed Lucius out of the room and outside where he looked out at the trench in the middle of the road. Until Lucius drew his attention further down where he saw the truck from yesterday. The back of it was loaded with a box full of food containers and a water container.
Lucius: A Lot of folks pitched in. Should be enough food and water to last for at least a week.
Wanderer: You usually do this for people you throw in jail?
Lucius: Not usually. Course most of those people don't risk their lives to save our town either.
Wanderer: Least the parts I didn't wreck myself.
Lucius let out a chuckle.
Lucius: Yeah well I guess that couldn't be helped. Still if you hadn't somehow broken out of jail who knows what would've happened. A lot of folks owe you their lives.
Wanderer: They don't owe me anything.
Lucius: Well for what it's worth you sure have my gratitude.
Lucius held his hand out to him and the Wanderer looked at it for a moment before taking it. He then walked over to the truck and got inside to start it up. Once it roared to life he started driving out of town and onto the highway. He noticed that the truck had a tape player in the dashboard. He reached into his pack and took out the tape out of his walkman and placed it into the player.
*Street Life by the Crusaders starts playing
The Wanderer raised to volume a bit and started to relax a little while driving. He let out a small breath and leaned back into the seat.
Jaime: HEY THAT SOUNDS COOL!
The Wanderer quickly applied the brakes causing the truck to violently screech to a halt. He turned around to face her sitting in the backseat.
Wanderer: What are you doing back there?
Jaime: Oh well I was just helping that bartender guy load up the truck this morning and afterwards I thought I'd wait for you here in the backseat. Guess I ended up falling asleep though.
The Wanderer turned off the engine and got out of the truck and walked over to open the door to the back seat.
Wanderer: Get out.
Jaime: Wait what?
Wanderer: I said get out!
Jaime: Ok ok.
Jaime got out of the truck and the Wanderer reached in and grabbed her bag and tossed it at her feet to her confusion. He then walked around to the back and grabbed a food container and tossed it to her. Jaime caught it in her hands. She looked at it for a moment, still confused.
Wanderer: It's only a few miles back into town. If you start walking now you should be able to get there before the sun really starts to beat down on you.
Jaime: Wait what? You said that you'd take me up north.
Wanderer: No you said that I didn't.
Jaime: Ok but we had a deal. We shook hands on it.
Wanderer: Yeah well then maybe I prefer not to travel with someone I can't fully trust.
Jaime: The hells that supposed to mean?
Wanderer: When exactly were you gonna tell me that you were being hunted by a pack of KKs? Or the fact that you're apparently a walking cure?
Jaime: Ok first off how was I supposed to know they would catch up to me that fast. I mean I lost them two days ago.
Wanderer: Wait, you thought you could lose a KK pack in just two days? How have you stayed alive this long?
Jaime: Ok I get it. Never underestimate KK tenacity again. Also before you even ask no, I don't know how or why I can apparently "cure" KKs. It's been like that since I was a little kid. Plus you make it sound like that's a bad thing. Isn't it a good thing I can do that?
Wanderer: You really don't get it do you? Believe it or not most KKs don't see themselves as needing to be cured.
The Wanderer walks up to Jaime and looks her in the eye.
Wanderer: And when they come across something like you it makes them nervous. And when they get nervous they get scared. And believe me there's nothing more dangerous than a pack of KKs driven by fear. You wanna stay alive? Don't try to force change.
The Wanderer then turns to head back to the truck.
Jaime: Says the guy with these in his bag.
He turned around to see her holding up the orange container in her hand.
Jaime: I've seen what's inside. Lucius told me what they're used for. If most KKs prefer to be what they are, how come you don't?
The Wanderer stood silent and walked over to her and snatched it away from her. He looked it over before walking back to the truck to put it back in his pack.
Jaime: Look if it's honesty you want then I'll tell you everything. I need to get up north because the world's ending.
Wanderer: You look around lately kid? I'm pretty sure it's already happened.
Jaime: Not like this. I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen but all I know is that in two months time radioactivity on earth will rise to cataclysmic levels. Nothing will survive.
Wanderer: And how exactly do you know this?
Jaime: My dad told me. He and my mom used to work for an organization called Monarch. They were both scientists studying G-cells. You know the stuff that created KKs.
Wanderer: I know what G-cells are.
Jaime: Yeah well anyway my dad told me that there's a monarch facility somewhere up north. And that supposedly I can save the world.
Wanderer: Is that right? Well listen no offense to your dad but some things in this world aren't worth saving. Besides up north is no place for a kid like you. The last thing your parents would want is for you to get yourself killed.
The Wanderer closed the back door and was about to climb back into the driver's seat when Jaime called out again.
Jaime: Wait! The truth is… me and dad got separated from my mom when I was young. We were supposed to head up north together but something happened and we had to leave without her. Then three weeks ago dad died trying to protect me from those KKs. I don't really care about saving the world, all I care about is seeing my mom again. And I know for a fact that she's waiting for me up north. So please, will you help me?
The Wanderer stood silently for a few moments before getting back into the truck and closing the door. As the engine started back up Jaime hung her head and picked up her bag. She turned around and started walking down the road when she heard the truck's horn sound. She turned back around to see the Wanderer waving his hand out the window.
Wanderer: What are you waiting for? Get in.
Jaime's face brightened into a large smile before instantly running back to the truck. She put her bag in the back and sat up in the front seat.
Jaime: So new road trip buddy. Awesome!
The Wanderer turned and gave her a stern look.
Jaime: Or not…. By the way if we're gonna be traveling together shouldn't I at least know your name?
The Wanderer sat silently looking forward as he was driving.
Jaime: You do have a name don't you?
Wanderer: Of course I do.
Jaime: Ok then what is it?
Wanderer: It's Goji.
Jaime: Goji? Really?
Goji: You got a problem with that?
Jaime: No. I think it sounds cool. I like it. Another thing I like about you is your choice of music.
Jaime turned the tape player back on and the song continued playing. She started to Bob her head to the rhythm of the song not noticing Goji looking over at her with a small smirk. He turned back forward as Jaime started to sing along to some of the lyrics. They continued driving down the road heading north.
Meanwhile somewhere not too far a small hill could be seen as someone stumbled as they made their way up. The disfigured KK grasped at his wounded shoulder groaning in pain. He took a few steps forward before turning quickly to face a cloaked woman standing there in front of a small jeep. She was dressed in leather with a belt. She wore elbow guards and gloves with a wristlet on her right hand. She had knee guards and pants with a waist wrap across her abdomen.
Her head was covered with a dark hood. She wore a leather quiver filled with arrows and a katana sheathed on her back. The disfigured KK relaxed upon seeing her as she walked up to him.
Gas mask: Oh it's you.
Woman: What happened? Where are the others?
Gas mask: We found the girl in the town. Even had her cornered. Then suddenly this guy shows up and starts picking us off like we were nothing.
Woman: What guy?
Gas mask: Some wanderer, another KK but different. He even killed Eddie. Opened his mouth and incinerated him like he was nothing. Never seen anything like it.
Woman: Where are they now?
Gas mask: If the girl sticks to her course they'll be continuing up north.
Woman: Good. Tend to your shoulder and get some rest. We leave in an hour.
The woman handed him some bandages and walked toward the jeep until the disfigured KK spoke up again.
Gas mask: There's something else Gordon should know. That kid he wants so badly is not what she seems. One of our boys grabbed her and she changed him just by touching him.
The woman stopped immediately in her tracks.
Woman: You're sure about that?
Gas mask: Saw it myself. And I think Gordon should be warned.
Woman: What makes you think he doesn't already know?
Gas mask: What do you-
Before he could finish his sentence a flash of metal swiped past him, silencing him in the process. He stood there gasping until he fell to his knees causing his head to fall from his shoulders as the woman held her bloody sword in her hand. His body fell onto the ground with blood spurting out of his neck. His head rolled along the ground before stopping at her feet.
The woman then swept her sword, sending the blood flying off as she used her arm to wipe her sword clean and resheathed it over her shoulder. She then walked over to the small jeep placing her sword and quiver in the passenger seat and got into the driver's seat. She started the engine covering her face with a shroud. She then sped off into the horizon heading north.
And with that the journey begins. Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter and are looking forward to the next one.
List of KKs
Goji: Godzilla
Eddie: Ebirah
Gas mask: Hedorah
Jaime: ?
Woman: ?
Until next time this is Tardispilot297 saying ALLONSY!