Nuclear Knights

Chapter Four

Chapter Four“What did you do?” he asked just after he appeared behind her. “Lam, I have it under control. These peasants are idiots,” she replied. Lam crossed his arms and stepped beside her. They were overlooking the wrecked village. “You call sending in a B-class beast to a small town smart? This was stupid. I assume that you didn't finish the job because the device failed?” Lam asked her and she shook her head. “No, one of the locals saw me, then he told two of his buddies. I'm just waiting for him to place the trackers on them so I can kill the three of them,” she said and smiled.

“That's the dumbest plan I've ever heard. No one is going to believe them, even if they believe him and, wait, trackers?” Lam asked and he didn't like where this was going. “Yeah, I did the old teleport into his house bit and threatened him with a shot to the stomach,” she replied and smiled.

“First, how did you know what house was his, secondly, why would you do that?” Lam asked her and he was annoyed. All of this was just getting worse. “She isn't going to like this, and you know I have to report this, right?” he asked and she sighed. “Yeah, I know,” she replied and he shook his head. “Nyogyth, listen. I know you think this plan is going to work, but you need stop rushing it. Controlling the monsters is genius, but you need to slow down,” Lam said to her and she grunted, crossed her arms.

“What's the point of going slow. There isn't going to be anything left of the world at this rate. These people can't fix anything. All of humanity is hanging by a thread. I mean look at this dump. People call this home,” Nyogyth said in frustration. Lam shook his head. “It's been like this for over a hundred and fifty years. I am sure the world will be fine for a little while longer,” he replied and continued.

“Go home, give me the tracker frequencies and I'll follow your mistakes and see what happens. I'm sure it'll be fine. You're not in the right mind for this right now,” Lam said and Nyogyth shook her head. “Fine, the trackers are on the beta frequency, good luck,” she said, pushed a button on her wrist and disappeared in green light.

Lam took the scanner off his belt and adjusted it to track the beta frequency. Sure, enough there were three trackers and they were all still in the same place. “Damn it, woman. Everything was going so nice too,” Lam said and hated being on this monster infested, burned out planet. Lam thought about just going back home and he almost did it too. For now, he would wait for the three of them to be a little more isolated.

Joppo made it to his house. It wasn't much more impressive than any other in this village. “Lisa, are you in there?” he asked and for a second, there wasn't an answer. He walked to the door and went inside. “Hey, I need to go to Hadoth, where are you at?” he asked, the silence was starting to make him feel uncomfortable.

“Yeah, I'm out back, I can barely hear you,” she yelled from outside and all of his tension went away. She sounded fine at least. He walked through the house and through the back door. She was just getting finished moving debris off the hoverbike in the back. “It's not broke is it?” he asked. “Nah, just buried a little. Not a problem,” she replied.

“Good, and thanks. I need to go do Hadoth and report the damage, and we need a new water purification unit,” he said and she nodded. “Yeah, I know. I heard you tell everyone. I know what to do. Don't worry about this place. I'm sure the monster won't come back,” she said, he had no idea how she could be so sure about that.

“Well, keep the people busy, you know what to do. I just wanted to say goodbye before I left. We should only be gone a couple of days,” he said and she smiled. “Yeah, you know I hate it when you go, but just be careful, okay?” she said and he nodded. “Of course, you know I will,” he replied and looked at his bike. “The last thing I wanted to do today was take a road trip, I really hate road trips,” he said.

“I got the pack ready, it's behind you. You can leave at any time,” she said and smiled and he nodded. “The sooner I leave the faster I get to come back,” Joppo said as he turned around, walked to his pack and picked it up. He looked at it the way he always did, a brown leather bag that was always the only line of defense against death outside of the walls of this place. He hated it as much as he needed it. “Well, Lisa, thanks a lot, again. I love you and I'll see you soon,” he said and she smiled.

“Love you too, now get out of there. I'll have this place as good as new by the time you get back,” she replied and he walked towards the bike, as he did, she grabbed him and kissed him as he walked by, surprising him. He returned it and did it the same as he did every time, like it was the last time. Neither of them ever talked about it, but they and everyone else knew that every day out here in the wasteland could be their last, today almost was.

He drew back with a smile. “I can't wait to get back home,” he said and she let him go. “Me either,” she replied and looked at the mess. Realizing other people had it so much worse right now.

With that Joppo moved to his bike, got on it. He was hoping it wouldn't start, he didn't really want to go anywhere but as he flipped the switch the thing hummed to life and lifted off the ground. “Good, it still works,” he said with a heavy amount of sarcasm.

She laughed and watched as he slowly started to go down the path and quickly disappear around a corner. Lisa knew each time he disappeared like this, might be the last time she, or anyone else ever saw him again.