The Wastelands

"It's nothing worth mentioning," Druid tried to non-passe about it, but she could tell that Statson wasn't buying it.

"Nothing worth mentioning? Huh, I don't know about that." Statson drawled out. "I know the Boss Lady is known for her wheeling and dealing, but it has to be more than that. She's not exactly hiding you, at least not from the Cities' government. So what's all this about?"

"It's kind of hard to explain." Druid glance back at Bryson, but he was still sulking.

"We don't need to explain anything." Bryson glared at Statson.

"Bryson," Druid pleaded.

"Come on, Druid, we don't need to tell him anything," Bryson advised, he placed his gloved hand on top Druid shoulder. "He doesn't need to know." That almost came out as a plea.

"He needs to know this," Druid replied, covering his hand with her own. "Bryson, trust me, okay. Besides, he's going to drill us until we tell him anyways."

"I sure in hell would."

"Fine." He reluctantly agreed, but the look on Bryson's face was a fair indication that he still didn't like the idea.

'Sorry about this, sweetheart. I know how much you don't like talking about it.'

"On paper. We bait," Druid rushed out. "And Mr. C.h.e.s.terfield is one of those who watch us."

Statson gave Druid a skeptical look. "For the Lumeye? That's f.u.c.k.i.n.g ridiculous."

"Yes, it really is." Druid agreed.

"I'm surprised that the Boss Lady even wanted the Cities to know about you guys," Statson stated.

"The Headmistress surmised that keeping us a secret would have been almost impossible, particularly since she didn't have enough outside help." Bryson piped in. "Then there was the matter of our manifestation. It was too big to hide."

"Yeah, yeah, I get all that." Statson waved his hand dismissively; his hand left the wheel for a few seconds, which swerved a little to the right. Since the car was on magnetized tracks, it didn't shift far; in fact, the car just moved to the next track, as if he planned it all along. Though it still made Druid grasped the handle to study herself. "But why are you running around here, not locked up to be experimented on or dead."

Druid relaxed and smiled, as sweet as could. "Because we're children, we are Lumeye, but have nothing to do with the war, and it's not like we asked to exist."

Statson snorted."That never stopped the Cities before."

Druid glanced at Bryson, but he turned away. "Having us locked up had no financial merit for the Cities."

Statson laughed. "Like I'm going to believe that. You're f.u.c.k.i.n.g Lumeye."

"And our DNA was too contaminated to be of any use to anyone," Druid revealed.

"Contaminated? What do you mean by that?" Statson asked.

"By human DNA, used to repair our damaged ones." Bryson grounded out. Druid knew that this was the one thing he hated to admit. He couldn't be the perfect Lumeye, and that was upsetting for him. "The Cities determined that we had no scientific value and were comparably weak to the other Lumeye."

"Weak, huh!" Statson mused, thoughtfully. "Inexperienced sure. Though I wouldn't call you weak." He shifted a little to turn into a side street. "Shadow has more training, sure, but all of you have potential. You're work ethic's, on the other hand, not great." He so doesn't like giving out compliments.

***

The frames were everywhere, surrounding her, on her. She felt the heat, drying her tears, as a man with no face kneeled before her. The flames crawled away from the man like they were afraid.

"See, it doesn't hurt, does it?" The man whispered to her. Druid opened her mouth to speak. "No. Sleep, it will be over soon."

***

And Druid never saw him again; quite frankly, at the time, Druid believed that the masked man was a figment of her fevered mind. Though with the Shadow incident, it may not be the case.

"Genetically weak than." Druid knew it was true, looking at her hands. She felt it everyone time she uses her abilities, a sort of disconnect. Like when Druid accidentally teleported into a wall and had to burn herself out to free herself. It could have been the losing control of her teleports, but it felt different, like having her wires crossed. In any case, it spooked her. "It still warrants for the Cities' people to watch us, and these little check-ins, making sure that we are still good little boys and girls."

"Hmmm." Statson glance at the rearview mirror then swerved to left. "Why the hell would the Cities go through all that trouble."

"The Headmistress, who else," Druid replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "At the time, she may have needed the Cities' influence, but it didn't mean that she went in without a plan."

Statson nodded in understanding. "Ah, the Boss Lady blackmailed them. I almost feel sorry for them." There was a pained expression on his face, probably remembered his first meeting with Headmistress Weatherly. Druid could very well imagine what he went through.

"Yes," Druid agreed. "She calls it bureaucrat Limbo. A so-called ceasefire. If we don't do anything outrageous and follow the rules, then they won't bother us."

"Sounds like she's buying time," Statson stated.

"Hmm." Druid just looked out the window watching the scenery go by; she didn't like cities like Towa, Druid felt like she was in one big birdcage, designed to perceive an illusion of safety.

'Though a hot bath and a comfy bed sound really lovely. It has been a long day,' Druid thought wistfully.

"Feels like standing on a bridge with only one support," Statson observed. "I would have packed up and left a long time ago."

Druid turned back to Statson. "Where would we go? We're kids, and believe me, there are a lot of worst places out there. Compound 8 is a paradise compared to the last place I've been to."

"Yeah, yeah. I can see that." Statson conceded, as his gaze kept moving to the rearview mirror.

"Is something wrong?" Druid asked, already knowing that she wouldn't like the answer.

"Someone's following us." Bryson was the one who answered; his blue eyes were scanning nearby cars.

"Ice Boy, you have been paying attention," Statson praised Bryson. "I'm impressed."

"They're a threat to Druid." Bryson stated matter a factly, "Do you have a plan, other than driving around like a lunatic."

"Defensive driving, Ice Boy, defensive driving. Naw, no plans needed, I think I lost them." Statson said, his gray eyes were cold. "Was kind of expecting it. We probably got pinged as soon as we went through customs. Most likely my old friends."

Druid knew that look on Bryson's face. He was about to tear into Statson for not having a plan. "Then…"

"How do you know that?" Druid interrupted, giving Bryson a 'be nice' look. She wasn't shocked, though. Just a little resigned, she really wanted to relax for at least one night.

He grinned with no humour. "Because that's what I would do."

"Why bother?" Bryson asked. "If they're the police, why not arrest us?"

"Not my precinct's jurisdiction. Plus, the paperwork. Even it's possible can't really arrest someone without cause, unless you're the guard. Hate those bastards." Statson g.r.o.a.n.e.d out. "Anyway's I'm going make sure I lose them before we head to those fancy digs that the Boss Lady set up."

"They're probably waiting for us," Bryson confirmed.

"Oh, I'm counting on it." Statson's ginned turned into delight. "It's going to be so much easier to find them that way."

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