The Wastelander

by Tipsy Wanderer

  Indeed, the old man could hardly stand and swayed like a blade of grass in the wind. He constantly seemed on the verge of toppling over. His hair was a thin mop of spindly white, and his face was carved deep with crisscrossing wrinkles. His skin was dry and stretched over his emaciated frame. All in all, he looked more corpse than man.

  He went on, “I am over eighty years old, closer to dying than anything else. At this age, riches, honor, titles, influence… none of those matter. But, I am left with regrets, and a desire to leave this world with something I’ve created – a powerful being as my final mark.”

  Cloudhawk half-believed the old man’s diatribe.

  “You have the power of a demon hunter and tremendous potential as well. Better still, you are young and thus, my greatest seedling. It serves nothing to hold back.” He spoke to the young wastelander, full of earnestness. He fought through another series of coughs. “I give you power so that you can make this land better. You are the final extension of my dream, the last goal to reach so I can die in peace. A success for the good of us all.”

  Cloudhawk couldn’t help but feel moved. Staying alive this long in the wastelands was no easy feat. After that speech, he chose to wait and see what would happen.

  He gave voice to another small doubt, “What is the Dark Atom Conclave you were talking about?”

  Hellflower answered in place of the Academician, “They are a group of Seekers established on the fringes of the Elysian lands, hiding from the ire of its denizens. Their current leader is Wolfblade, a wild and ambitious man. They smuggle things from within their territory to us in exchange for things of our own. They earn a lot from us to use in their fight against the holy cities, and so they make frequent trips to Blackwater Base to trade.”

  Seekers lurked in the Elysian lands as well?

  That was unexpected! Of all the denizens of the wastelands, it was the Seekers the people of the Elysian lands hated most bitterly. Not only were they godless heathens, but they also toyed with the unholy relics of the past while denying the supremacy of godly men. They even refused to accept the divine histories as truth, which made Seekers enemies that were to be killed on sight.

  Was it even possible that this group, as incompatible with the Elysian lands as fire and water, could survive in such hostile territory? How did they do it?

  Cloudhawk was always a victim to his curiosity. He directed his words towards Hyena, the one who was going to meet the Dark Atom, “Can I go with you?”

  Hyena had been lost in absent thought when the young boy’s question piqued his attention. His eyebrows shot up, and he looked to Roste for the old scientist’s opinion. The Academician nodded consent. The location for their meeting was just at the gate of Blackwater Base, so there was nowhere for Cloudhawk to flee to. They still needed the young man’s cooperation. Since his request was not unreasonable, the Academician saw no harm in allowing him to satisfy his curiosity.

  “I’m a little tired. We’ll finish here for now.”

  Roste was old and as such, his vigor was waning. They’d spent quite a long while to conduct these tests and though he was eager to continue, his body would not cooperate. They were forced to postpone Cloudhawk’s examination.

  Cloudhawk followed Hyena out of the testing chamber. Chimp was the last to exit. He shut the door, extracted a set of keys from his coat, and locked it behind them.

  Chimp was the laboratory’s director and also the Academician’s student. He wasn’t as capable a fighter as Hyena, nor was he as astute as Hellflower, but he was unfailingly loyal to the Academician. He was rewarded with the responsibility of overseeing all the confidential and important matters of the lab. He held all the keys.

  A sweet breeze flit past. Hellflower appeared by their side.

  Chimp brazenly salivated over her proud chest and firm buttocks. He hardly even blinked.

  Hellflower suddenly stopped and, intentionally or unintentionally, stretched her back, forcing her rump higher. “Enjoying the view?”

  This woman was always so calm and dignified, so her sudden teasing words immediately dug into Chimp’s lewd mind. His blood pumped faster, his body unconsciously reacting to her suggestions. He answered her with an obscene grin, “A fine view is one thing, but I wonder if you know how to use your gifts.”

  “Is your whole head clogged up with sperm? I really don’t understand why the Academician would pick a man like you to run his laboratory.” Her blunt abuse was not tainted with anger. In fact, it was almost teasing. She continued with a sigh, “But I have nothing to do, and boredom is a terrible affliction. I want a drink.”

  Chimp’s eyes lit up like a cat who’d caught the scent of fish. “What would you like? I’ll treat you.”

  Hellflower cast a fleeting glance towards the director’s key ring. “Oh, I couldn’t ask you to spend any money on me.”

  “It’s nothing. Not an issue!”

  “Alright… tonight then.”

  It was unlikely that this woman had suddenly become interested in dispelling her loneliness. Yet, Chimp couldn’t help but be excited by the scenarios playing through his mind, which made his body’s physical reactions more acute. That woman was far more dangerous than she looked. Otherwise, he’d have taught her a lesson a long time ago.

  The unique sounds of the base’s hydraulic systems – the winches and gears – whined as they worked to pull open its massive front door. Nearly a hundred people stepped through the portal, all clad in protective biohazard gear. They bore all manner of weapons, brandished for anyone to see.

  As Cloudhawk stepped through the door with Hyena and out into the swamp, he saw something emerge from the fog. It looked like an airship, and it crept through the marsh towards them. It looked a full one-third larger than the one commanded by the Caliph’s lieutenants. Six or seven motley looking flying machines followed as an entourage.

  Were these the Seekers from the Elysian lands? They even had an airship – they had to be a force to be reckoned with!

  Hyena kept his eyes on Cloudhawk’s back. His fists slowly raised, fingernails growing longer centimeter by centimeter. However, when even the slightest rotten thought intruded his mind, Cloudhawk seemed to sense it. He swung his head around, eyes sharp, and fixed his vision on Hyena.

  “What are you looking at?” Hyena was surprised at the kid’s keen situational awareness. By now, the dark thoughts had passed. “Out of my way!”

  Cloudhawk frowned suspiciously. He had definitely felt something… or was it an illusion?

  He trusted his intuition beyond a shadow of a doubt. It wasn’t a mistake. He’d felt the danger, so his eyes followed the scarred man. Still, he didn’t manage to spot anything untoward.

  They’d left the base with twenty or so items in tow, odd things that were a little like crates and a little like cages. The outsides were tightly wrapped in cloth, but the sounds of creatures could clearly be heard from within.

  The Dark Atom airship slowly touched down, and a tall man with a sharp, hawk-like nose stepped out. His sharp and beady eyes swept over the Blackwater contingent before eventually settling on Hyena. He smiled. “It’s been a long time, Hyena my friend. I’m glad to see you’re still breathing.”

  “Cut the shit, Buzzard!” Hyena clearly wasn’t interested in playing nice with this fellow. Among these illustrious Dark Atom Seekers, this one wasn’t anyone to bother with. “The Academician said to give you twenty this time. Next time, it’s double.”

  Buzzard glanced at the crates, pleasantly surprised by the news. “The Academician is as generous as he is prosperous, I see! I offer thanks on behalf of Wolfblade.”

  Their exchange was cut short when one of the crates tipped over. An angry snarl issued from within followed by the sounds of struggle. Whatever beast was inside the crate was fighting to get free.

  Several Blackwater soldiers rushed over with their weapons belching lightning. What resulted was one side of the crate bursting open and a scaled monstrosity leaping out from within. As bol
ts of electricity struck it, sparks went flying, but they were completely ineffective.

  “Aaaarrgghhh!”

  The green-scaled beast grabbed one of the soldiers and unceremoniously ripped him in half. It then lunged at another and crushed his head with a single punch.

  Hyena reacted immediately. Black hair sprouted over his body, and his two powerful legs sent him charging towards the beast. The scaled monster sensed Hyena coming, which only seemed to enrage it further. There was a deep, seething hatred in its feral eyes.

  The two humanoid beasts clashed, trading punch for punch. Hyena was clearly stronger.

  The green-scaled monster was knocked back a few steps but was unharmed from Hyena’s blow. Its strength and endurance were impressive, to say the least.

  Before the creature could regain its balance, Buzzard swept in like a ghost. In terms of speed, he was at least thirty percent faster than Hyena. Already at a disadvantage against Hyena, the green-scaled monster was suddenly faced with another individual just as strong. The surprise attack forced it to the ground.

  Hyena and Buzzard pinned the creature down, one on its left and the other on its right. Eventually, the scales receded back into the creature’s skin, revealing a bull-like bald man beneath.

  As he watched the scene, Cloudhawk’s eyes widened in shock. “It’s him!”

  Wasn’t this the mercenary captain, the one who’d tried to kill him in the marshes? He remembered that Hyena had knocked him out and dragged him back to camp. That was about ten days ago. What had happened to him since then? How did he get so strong? Why was he suddenly part of the base’s trade goods?

  The bald-headed man didn’t lose consciousness. He screamed and roared in impotent hatred until one of Blackwater’s soldiers gave him an injection. He almost immediately sank into a coma. Thus neutralized, he was returned to the crate.

  “This new one isn’t stable yet. His memories haven’t been completely erased,” Hyena explained to Buzzard. “I’ll go back to the base and exchange it for another one.”

  “No need.” Buzzard eyed the bald man’s crate. He chuckled through a dark grin. “We’ve been getting into more scraps than ever. Fighters with his kind of gusto are few and far between. I think Wolfblade will like this one. We’ll teach it how to behave. Send the Academician our thanks.”

  The members of Dark Atom quickly gathered the crates and loaded them onto their airship. Meanwhile, Blackwater soldiers collected the rare Elysian materials given in exchange.

  With their transaction completed, the Dark Atom packed up and prepared to leave. They didn’t leave any trace of their presence behind. Buzzard bade Hyena farewell, and then, their airship lifted off. Cloudhawk followed Hyena and the others as they returned to base, only this time, his curiosity was replaced with something more like concern.

  110 Stealing Secrets

  Cloudhawk closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of the cool and refreshing water flowing over his body. From his head to his neck to his chest, all down his body every pore relaxed as the magnificent sensation washed through him. His mind began to wander, and Blackwater Base’s situation intruded on his relaxing moment.

  This place was a legacy of the past – a relic of the old days. Fifty years ago, the base was discovered by the Seekers. Luckily, they were able to get the water filtration system up and running, and from that point on, the base was a functional sanctuary. By now, most of the living quarters, laboratories, testing areas, manufacturing centers, logistics zones, and the central control area were operational. All together, there were about eight thousand people living here – not many in the grand scheme of things, but they commanded incredible influence and power. Here, they were able to manufacture panacea, advanced weaponry, and special materials which they traded for essential goods. They were rich, more affluent even than Greenland Outpost.

  The water slowed to a trickle and eventually stopped. Not a single drop was wasted.

  More than once, Cloudhawk had nearly died of thirst out in the wastelands. He cherished water as one of the world’s greatest treasures. He couldn’t help the guilt that crept up within him due to his wasting all of this water to wash. Although the base certainly wasn’t lacking for water, he didn’t want to use any more than he already had.

  After ten days under Blackwater Base’s state-of-the-art care, there wasn’t a scratch left on Cloudhawk. He was comfortable and safe for the first time in a while. Every day, he would study the Elysian language with Hellflower, and the amount of information he retained surprised to her. He already had most of the foundational vocabulary committed to memory.

  And yet, though safe and comfortable, Cloudhawk was ill at ease.

  He wanted to know what Academician Roste’s plans were. What was he up to?

  Today’s tests were conducted without rhyme or reason. It was especially suspicious that they were willing to spend so much just to procure resources for Cloudhawk’s improvement. Where there was smoke, there was fire, and so the young wastelander wasn’t convinced by the excuse Roste had given him. After seeing what had become of that bald mercenary, his sense of unease had only grown.

  Only ten days ago, that baldie had been a normal guy! How had he suddenly become a monster? There was no mutation he knew of that worked so quickly.

  Cloudhawk knew that there had to be more than they were telling him. However, he didn’t know what it was, where it was coming from, or who was behind it.

  “Are you interested in becoming the strongest organism in the wastelands?”

  Roste’s strange offer echoed through Cloudhawk’s mind, and for some reason, it caused a chill to crawl up his spine. “Strongest organism” … it was a strange and specific phrase. He hadn’t paid the oddity much thought at first, but now, it seemed uncomfortably telling.

  However, he didn’t get the chance to think too deeply on it, for just as the thought crossed his mind, the door suddenly opened. Hellflower swept into the apartments smelling of booze. Clearly, she’d had a few. Her typically dignified and poised face was painted with splotches of red. Her first order of business was to put down the items in her hands on her work desk: a folder and a set of keys.

  Part of Cloudhawk’s training with Mantis had been to develop the habit of paying close attention. Most of the details from today’s meeting with the Academician and his subordinates were still fresh in his memory – and unless he was mistaken, those keys used to be under the care of that thin and creepy laboratory director. Why did Hellflower have them now?

  Somehow, her face was even redder than when she entered, and her eyes were blurry. However, she was clearly fighting to keep her head clear as she spoke to him, “This data’s very important. It needs to be translated right away and finished by tonight. I’m gonna make a copy, and you start translating.”

  Cloudhawk took one look at her and knew this was no trivial matter.

  He remembered their agreement: she would teach him Elysian and get him whatever resources she could, and he would perform whatever duties she required.

  However, he noticed that Hellflower was out of sorts. He couldn’t help but ask, “Are you alright?”

  Since coming into the room and sitting down, she’d started burning up. Even from a few feet away, Cloudhawk could feel the heat radiating off of her. The first few buttons of her blouse had been undone, and the attractive plunge of her bust was clearly visible. Any man would be hard pressed to keep his head when that was his field of view, especially someone like Chimp.

  Evidently, the laboratory’s director had been caught in a honey pot, but Hellflower had paid a price herself.

  “That repugnant monkey used a very strong dose.” Hellflower tenderly rubbed her temples. “But that’s not important. Get to work.”

  Chimp had spiked her drink with a powerful hallucinogenic or perhaps, some sort of aphrodisiac. Any lesser woman would have been entirely at his mercy, but Hellflower had been prepared. She’d taken something to inhibit neurotransmitters, thus reducing the withdrawal
effects of his drugs and negating the unsavory results of his aphrodisiacs.

  She’d only managed to escape his filthy plans because of these precautions.

  She clamped her legs shut and took a deep breath. A drop of sweat trickled down her uncannily smooth face, down the line of her chin, and ultimately into the valley of pale skin below before vanishing in that crevice. Sweat was pouring off of her now, which made her clothes cling to her every curve. Her white clothes were nearly transparent – a fact that did not escape Cloudhawk’s notice.

  He stared at her, dumbfounded.

  The scientist’s face was beguiling yet serious. She tried to pull herself together by pushing her glasses up her nose and arranging the data in the folder. Delicate fingers snatched up a pen, and she started to transcribe its contents. Even drugged, her hands were dexterous and scrawled across the page like flowing water.

  She certainly had supernatural levels of willpower to actually keep her mind on her work.

  Cloudhawk looked over the data, covered in a mess of formulas that seemed haphazardly scribbled across the page. All of the figures made his head spin. However, he did see that they were annotated with the ancient script, words he recognized.

  The parchment and ink were fresh, so Cloudhawk figured the data had to be only a few years old. This detail told him that there had to be someone else in the base who could understand the ancient text. Based on Hellflower’s status among the Seekers, if she still hadn’t been taught how to read it, this meant the only person who could understand the writing had to be the Academician.

  Hellflower must have planned to use her charms to pilfer the keys from the Academician’s most trusted student, Chimp. That must mean she stole this data – she was brazen, that was for certain. She would dare steal from the Academician!

  “Start translating!”

  As she transcribed the information, she hid large chunks of the formulas and restructured the paragraphs in such a way that they made little sense. Cloudhawk was given a veritable mess of words and figures to sift through and couldn’t puzzle out its meaning. All he could do was focus on one sentence at a time, translating what he was given line by line [1].