Nuclear Knights

Chapter Two

Chapter TwoRyan slowed down as he got to the crowd. The thunderous footsteps of the beast fading as it left town. He saw Matt towards the back making sure people were alright. “What in the hell happened here?” Ryan asked him and Matt shook his head. “I don't know, it, well, it just came out of nowhere. I swear one minute everything was fine and then it just was right there,” Matt said and that didn't make any sense to Ryan.

“How could it sneak up on you. It wasn't a ground dweller C-class or something. It was a B class beast. You can't exactly just not see it, you know?” Ryan asked again and Matt shrugged. “I am telling you, it just appeared out of the dark,” Matt replied and as much sense as it didn't make, it was just another thing on the list of things that didn't make sense today.

“Well, it's gone now, we got lucky. I need to check to see if the water purification center is smashed or not. If it is we'll need to spend a few days in Hadoth until we can get it fixed,” Ryan replied and Matt looked into the wreckage of the city. “It's smashed, I don't need to go in there to check to know that. I think the thing just stepped on it,” Matt replied and Ryan was about to agree when another voice began to speak over the crowd and the various voices quieted. Matt and Ryan turned to pay attention as well.

“Well, that's one hell of a wakeup call,” the man said and the crowd had a slight laugh. He was wearing a tan shirt with faded green pants. He stood at the front of the crowd.

“Alright, me and a couple of others are going to go to Hadoth to get a new water unit. The rest of you are going to stay here. The damage is contained and I don't see too much fire, most of it can be repaired by what we have on hand. We have two days' worth of clean water saved up, three if you ration it out,” he said and tossed a ring of keys to a man beside him who caught it.

The man looked over the crowd and saw Ryan who still had a bike, and the man responsible for not warning them in advance right next to him. He knew that they'd eventually blame him Matt for this so it was right then he decided who was coming with him. “Ryan, Matt, you're coming with me,” he said to them. This attracted the attention of the others. Matt was on part of the night watch and the beast walked from his direction. The pieces were starting to come together.

“You're lucky he picked you, these people might get mad and kill you once the shock passes,” Ryan said and continued. “Get on my trailer and I'll get you away from the crowd,” Ryan said under his breath and Matt didn't have to think twice about that. People were already starting to look in their direction. Matt quickly jumped on and Ryan took off towards the leader of the village.

“Thanks,” Matt said the second they pulled up to him. “Don't thank me. I'm just saving you from being hanged. If I find out you were sleeping on the job, well, you won't be so lucky,” Joppo said and Matt looked at the crowd, then at the destruction behind them.

“Joppo, man, you've got to believe me. I swear. It just appeared out of nowhere. There is no way it could have snuck up on me. Or anyone, the thing was a B-class, they aren't known for their stealth,” Matt said but Joppo wasn't interested in stories.

“Don't worry. The cameras will let me know what's up. You two wait here. I'm going to get my pack and we'll start going to Hadoth in twenty minutes,” Joppo said and Ryan nodded. “I need to get mine too, if it's not crushed,” Ryan said and shut the bike off, it settled to the ground.

“You stay here with my bike, I need to get mine too. If yours isn't flattened I'll pick it up. If it is, you're going without. I'm pretty sure you were sleeping on the job,” Ryan finished and he got off the bike and started to walk back to the village.

“Thanks,” Matt said and sat down on the trailer, the crowd began to leave and Joppo and Ryan disappeared into it. Matt crossed his arms and looked around. Something about being out here alone was making him nervous. If that thing could appear out of nowhere, nothing was stopping it from happening again. The sun was barely up this morning, but it was already getting hot. Right now, all he really wanted to do was go home and go to sleep. He wasn't even sure if he had a home left.