by Alex Fall
"Tickle tickle!" He said with a huge grin.
He did the unthinkable. He began...to tickle me. I'm going to kill him.
While I involuntarily growled out of exasperation, I managed to pull one leg under his arm and bring it between the two of us to shove him off. It was so hard to react and even think when he's tickling me. I can't believe I'm ticklish! That's so inappropriate for a fighter! That's so unfitting of me! It's so stupid!
I turned and high kicked the stupid figment's head off. It cracked and flew away as his body leaned forward and crushed itself on the ground. I heard him laughing behind me, so I spun around.
"Time to wake up, gorgeous," he said with a tap to my nose.
I awoke with a deep breath and my eyes gently opening. As my mind rebooted, the memory of the dream came back to mind, setting my mood to 'annoyed.' I can't believe I'm ticklish! What am I, a child? Maybe it's just in the dream...
I pulled back the covers a bit and raised my shirt enough to expose my navel. I took the corner of the top sheet on my bed and rubbed it gently across my belly. My whole core twitched and tingled at the sensation.
Botches! I can't believe I'm ticklish! I checked my surroundings to make sure no one was watching. I can't believe I'm ticklish...
And I HATE that it's somehow soothing!
You *cuss* figment! How did you know? How are you always right?!
I rose from my bed, slightly flustered, slightly cold, and very hungry. I had begun my conditioning again, so a slight tiredness was left in my muscles along with an increased appetite. I hunted down the tub of peanut butter that was given to me the day before. Turns out, that was the smell of peanuts that had been teasing me since I arrived at the sky rig. Through some advanced preparation and storage methods, loads of peanut butter that pretty much never went rancid were found on the station by the Dwellers. I made a breakfast of crackers and peanut butter, standing in a makeshift sunroom that overlooked the early morning, fog covered city.
This room felt so out of place. It was full of rows and rows of plants, fed by the light that was filtering through hanging grow lights. This is where their crops came from, as it risked being stolen if they were grown outside. It seemed that food was always a concern. With the Greaters controlling the city, Dwellers were left to scrounge for food or grow it. Most food they can actually find has gone bad, and growing takes time. If they simply had powers, the Dwellers could walk to a functioning restaurant and have it made for them.
"Miss Sapphire, it seems you have another guest," said a quiet voiced man of large stature, wearing thick coats, a knit hat, and fancy scarf. "How many more people do you have that plan on inviting themselves over?"
"What guest?"
"A man, Latin it seems."
Vick. Or at least, I assume it is. I fingered at a handgun that I had at my side to make sure it was still there, just in case things went terribly wrong.
I was led to a side hatch, whereupon the man opened it to reveal a chilled Vick, dressed for warmth and some protection. He looked up in readiness at the sound of movement, but immediately relaxed when he saw the glow of my eyes.
"You know this man?"
"Vick Martinez."
"Captain," he acknowledged.
I waved my hand to have him come inside. It was freezing out there, and I wanted to expose myself to that as little as possible. Once inside, he put away his semi automatic weapon and took off his hat.
"Greater?" Asked the Dweller.
"Human," I replied.
"What's this now?" Vick asked.
"Don't worry about it," I said. "Not like you to be the last to show up."
The Dweller stepped away and observed the conversation from a distance as Vick began to talk. "I was the furthest away when we all got the call you were alive."
He set a backpack down and let out a deep breath...before engulfing me in a bear hug. My comparatively small frame disappeared in his huge one. I felt like he might crush me.
"I'm glad you're alive captain."
"M-kay, nice to see you too. Let me go now...."
"Hey! How come he gets a hug and I got a punch to the throat?" Wyatt asked as he joined us.
"Shut up, it's still early," I barked in whispers. "Vick, really. Let me go."
He released me from a hug, but held me tight at my shoulders. He examined me for a moment with a content look on his face.
"You've been using your power," he commented.
"Life's been tough."
"Erin, I don't think you realize how different you look from the last time we saw you," Wyatt added.
"I don't think you realize how much has happened to me since the last time you saw me," I replied.
"Combat, obviously."
"I've almost died, not once, but several times since I've been here."
"That's not something you should be proud of," chimed the nearby Dweller.
"No one asked you, snot wipe," I said.
"Hey now..." Wyatt said, putting himself between me and the Dweller.
"Tsk, some hero you are," he said as he got up. My mind spat a quick series of curse words and threats, but Vick pulled me back. My irritation simmered, yet I made no reply.
"You okay?" Vick asked me.
"And you know what? I don't NEED to be asked, spitfire!" The Dweller suddenly blurted.
"Sit down somewhere else before you end up biting my fist," I growled.
"Hey now!" Wyatt said, louder this time. The Dweller ignored him.
"What's the matter? Upset that no one listens to you because you're a greater?"
"I'm not a Greater!" My irritation was slowly but surely growing. Who is this guy? What's his problem? And does he seriously think he can take me?
"Oh really? I can't tell. You all act so similar."
I felt my fists close and my teeth grit, but Vick's grasp kept me from lunging. Yet it was Wyatt that interrupted.
"Don't answer that," he said pointing to me. "And you," he continued, turning to the Dweller. "Do you have a problem with her?"
"Absolutely! She doesn't care about us! She doesn't belong here, letting her people storm our homes!"
"We can leave if you wish," said Vick.
"Yes! And take her with you. She's only trouble for everyone that she's around. Just look at the child she took. Ask the dwellers that got usurped, or the ones that lost their home and became casualties because the Reds are looking for her."
What?! All of this is happening? And the Dwellers are blaming me for it?! I felt a strange mixture of emotions swirl inside me, but largely it was anger. My face however remained motionless and stern. I wanted to hurt something.
I need some sleep meds.
"Hey captain, we're alright. Let's just go to your room, ok?" Vick said, probably trying to break my anger fueled concentration.
"Hey fool, I think you've been living in this metal shell a little too long," Wyatt said. "Look at her face. Do you know what that look is? That's the look that means she wants to hurt you. And if you were smart, you would shut up now."
The man uttered "yeah right" under his breath as he leaned back against the wall, purposefully in the way of the route back to my room. He dared to challenge me with a glare, but I beat back his weak spirit with my gaze after only several seconds. I pulled myself away (perhaps more aggressively than I meant to) from Vick's grasp and returned to my room, bumping shoulders with the Dweller, hard. My crewmen followed, whispering greetings to each other.
"Captain, is everything okay? Are we a problem?" Vick asked once we were back in the room.
"No you aren't. I've never had a problem with the Dwellers here." I found myself holding the bottle of sleep meds, grabbing it nearly out of habit now. Whatever, it's not like my body can't take it.
"Erin..." Wyatt said cautiously.
"What?"
"Are you sure you should be-"
"Positive. But you're welcome to try and stop me," I said after swallowing several pills.
"You seem more...aggres
sive," Vick noted.
I glanced at Vick to see the worry on his calm face. I sat on my bed in silence while the two other guests to my room talked things out.
"So, it turns out there's these guys called Benevolents in this city," Wyatt explained. "Basically they are anyone that has a power. It's not the same kind of power as Erin's though. Everyone that is normal is called a Dweller, and as you figured out, the Benevolents are a tad tyrannical."
Vick smirked. "Really. I hadn't noticed..."
"Yeah, so anyway, they have some kind of power hungry caste system thing going on, and 'Miss Captain' seems pretty set on setting things straight. But I don't know what she can do since she's only one person!" Wyatt said, pointedly stating his last sentence at me.
True. The point has been bothering me for quite some time anyway. All I have to go on is someone called The Big Man, and a bolt named Abel that may or may not be the big man. I have no idea where these people are, how many of them there are, and little idea how to find them. It's been frustrating me, and having 'Gar' point it out only frustrated me further.
"Shut up," I said.
"Heh, you have a fascination with world change, don't you?" Vick asked.
I broke my spaced out gaze to look him in the eye. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You already took out one government. The only government really. Then you go world exploring. Now you're fighting for some people you don't even know. What's up, little girl?"
"Don't call me that." It reminds me of Fake Arty...
"I'm serious," he said with a chuckle.
I looked at Wyatt. "What, no sarcastic comments you want to add?"
"Hey, Vick came up with this. I'm not part of it."
"What are you asking?" I directed at Vick, hoping he'd drop the subject.
"Why so interested in staying? Did you meet a man?"
"...what?" I said in an annoyed voice.
"Heh, pardon me. Just a wild guess."
I glared at him for a moment before choosing to answer. "Because I have purpose here."
Wyatt shook his head and looked to the side. Vick however looked on with approval.
He asked, "Well...how can we help?"
Part 16
"And what all did you bring?" I asked.
Me and my crew were gathered in some sort of mechanic area within the sky rig, likely meant to repair small vehicles. It was just the five of us. Sharon and Monica were elsewhere doing...whatever it is they do.
"Standard heavy set mission weaponry, your medicine, medical kits, basic survival packs, tracking equipment-"
"And my ship?" I asked, cutting Reggie off.
"Couldn't fit in the warp," Vick answered.
"And I'm not familiar enough with warp tech to expand size parameters," added Wyatt. "It was already hard enough powering it back up."
I rubbed at the scratchy remains of a nearly healed burn while I thought. It's disappointing that I don't have my ship. Botches, things would be much easier if I had my ship.
"What's this I hear about you adopting a girl?" Vick asked.
"What? Who told you that?"
Vick looked to Wyatt, and Wyatt locked onto the dusty toolbox sitting nearby, trying to hide a guilty smirk.
"I don't adopt. That's stupid."
"But you DO have a girl with you right?" Asked Reggie.
"Two," answered Lori.
"Two?" Vick echoed.
"But I think the older wants to stay here," she added.
I glared at Lori for discovering this. I was the one who saved the stupid child, twice. How does my crew member, that did nothing for her, know about this before I do?
"And the Benevolents?" Asked Vick.
"Enemies. Most are aggressive. The rest are cowards," I answered.
"Uuuum...I find it hard to believe things are so black and white," Wyatt said.
"I have to agree with Gar. If what happened to the city is as you say, why would everyone that developed powers abandon their families and friends that did not? If I got powers, I wouldn't hate on you guys," Reggie commented.
"Does it matter? Anyone I see that hurts the weak and tries to hurt me IS an enemy. There's no mistaking that," I said with some force.
"Fair enough, but what of the Benevolents that just live in the city? The ones walking down the sidewalk, or the ones working as cooks in a restaurant? They're not hurting anyone," Vick said.
"They might have slaves. They might do things when we don't see them. Guilty until proven innocent." My staunch stand didn't seem to sit well on the minds of my crew members.
"How did the Benevolents get their powers again?" Lori asked.
"Power gang forced drugs on everyone. Try to keep up," Wyatt answered for me. At least he's good at listening.
"Do we know where the drugs are being made? Do they have to be continually used, or is it a one-shot-go kind of thing?" She asked.
The drugs? I never thought about the drugs before. Did I assume they were similar to what I used? I KNOW that they aren't, as the people don't seem to have adverse side affects to their own power.
"I don't know. But you said you brought tracking equipment? There's more than one way to find out," I said. "Oh, tell me you know where the warp gate is."
"Yeah sure. Got it logged on my tracker," Wyatt responded.
"Thank god," I said. Something finally went right.
"And what about their weapons? Even with powers, I've run into quite a few that are armed. It doesn't make sense how a half functioning city has that much ammo and guns," Reggie said.
"The Decapolis had plenty of weapons," Vick chimed.
"Yeah, but the Decapolis is more...alive. They function better as a city. This place is more disorganized, or something. So where are they getting all this firepower from?"
"Factories. They use Dwellers as a slave labor," I answered. "I was told that the factories are guarded though."
"That almost goes without saying," Lori sighed. "Honestly, that's a better lead than the drugs. If we can cripple their offensive power, we lower their main strength. I say we should hit that."
"Are you sure the five of us can take a factory by ourselves?" Vick asked warily.
"Please. I can go anywhere I want. I could take it by myself," I bragged. Those boogers wouldn't stand a chance.
"Right..." Lori said, eyeing me doubtfully.
I cocked my head. "Are you saying I am wrong?"
"What about the Big Man? Or whatever he was called," Wyatt piped up.
"What about him?" I asked.
"Couldn't we just find him? I mean, he sounds like some kind of leader-"
"We hit the factories first. Drugs and leaders follow, because we don't know where either would be found right now," I commanded. "Anyone care to disagree?"
After a sober moment passed, Lori said, "Captain, maybe you shouldn't be fighting in your condition..."
"Excuse me?"
Wyatt cleared his throat and looked away, as if he was no part of this conversation. "I mean, you're still healing. And haven't you done enough combat?" She continued.
"No, I haven't," I told her gravely.
"Captain, yes you have. There's no point in unnecessary-"
"No, I have not!" I repeated, this time louder. I found that I was squaring myself against her, staring her down.
She fell silent. In fact, my whole team did.
"I have the most experience with the Greaters. I know how they are, and I will be the one that leads this mission. Clear?" I stated loudly.
"Clear," Reggie and Wyatt mumbled. Vick and Lori simply watched me cautiously.
"Pack everything up. We're moving out to the edge of town tonight," I said in dismissal. And I dare a Leftover to stand in my way when we get there...
Before I opened the metal door leading out of the room we were in, I heard someone on the other side dash away. The door swung open quickly as I searched for the eavesdropper. Sharon disappeared around the nearest corner.
"What are you doing Sharon
?"
She peeked back around the corner at me. "Are we leaving again?"
"I am."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere dangerous."
"You're going to kill someone, aren't you?"
Why does she always ask that? I have little patience for this right now...
"Can...can we just stay here?" She asked softly.
"Look, I need to fix some things," I said, trying to stay calm and quiet. "I need to leave in order to do that. You want to live in a good place, right?"
"Killing isn't good."
We had a stare down. It wasn't the normal kind where I intimidate someone, but more like spacing out as I tried to figure out how to respond, all the while Sharon pleading to me with her eyes.
Lori slipped past me and knelt before Sharon. "Sweetie, I need you and Monica to stay here for a while. We are going to be-"
"No! I'm going with you," she responded with a sudden frankness.
"Sharon, I need you to be brave. You have to let us go and you have to stay here."
"No! I'm not staying!" Sharon whined.
"Let her come," I said.
Lori stood, faced me, and put her back to Sharon as she whispered to me. "Captain, that's bad idea, and we don't have room for more of those. She's just a child."
"She wants to come. Let her."
"Captain! You just ordered us into combat! What are you thinking, bringing a child?"
"I'll make it work." With that statement, I broke away from Lori and snapped my fingers to have Sharon follow. I had to gather my things and Sharon's. As we walked away, I could feel Lori staring at me in disbelief.
It wasn't long before we left. Monica indeed wanted to stay, so she settled in the sky rig and bid us farewell. However, Sharon indeed wanted to come, so she followed me with a backpack of her own things. My crew followed as well, with more equipment than it seemed like they needed. Some Dwellers gave us their goodbyes, others watched from the shadows, perhaps glad to be rid of us. These Dwellers weren't that gracious anyhow. As soon as we left, we stayed out of sight as much as possible. Traveling through the city via side streets and underground tunnels, we made our way towards the outer city, towards the warp gate. Night was falling outside, a coolness was in the air, and light wispy cirrus clouds hung far overhead, colored pink by the setting sun. And as usual, the city seemed quiet.
