The Wastelands

"I got to say I'm kind of disappointed."

Druid, who just came out from a side room, and had just completed putting her things away. "Disappointed?"

"Yeah, I thought that this townhouse would be as snazzy as hell and big," Statson replied. "But this place is only a hair more than double my very crappy unit." His gaze swept through a very sparse living/kitchen area. "It's nice enough, but there's more personality in a hotel room."

"You met Headmistress Weatherly, right?" Bryson snorted as he looked out the window. "She hates useless spaces and frivolous trinkets? Please."

"I'm just grateful there's a bathtub in this one," Druid added, as she sat on the couch."In Kingbury, there are just one of those hydro-sonic shower hookups."

"I can appreciate the practical aspect of it all, but still, I was hope working in the private sector would give you better perks." Statson sighed. "My room might as well be a closet."

"Ha, why don't you stay at your crappy unit of yours. Go ahead; I don't mind," Bryson said keenly. He was pretty much saying, 'Leave now, we don't need you.'

"Nice try, Ice Boy, since I got roped in as your Chaperone, I am sure and hell going to do it right." Statson laughed half-heartedly. "Besides, do you know how much it costs to keep a unit here? I got rid of that place a long time ago."

"Hmph." Was Bryson only reply before going back, looking out the window.

Druid could only roll her eyes. "Don't we have more pressing concerns."

"Relax, Fire Princess, all we can do is wait." Then Statson's gave a pointed look at Bryson. "And, no use looking out the window, they're still going to be there."

Bryson clenched his fist. "I hate dealing with an enemy that I have no prior knowledge. You say they're WMP, but they could be just as likely to be someone else."

"Chill, Ice Boy, would you accept that I had a gut feeling?" Statson asked.

"No."

"Thought not." Statson rubbing the back of his neck. "That's why I did that fancy driving."

"So, you weren't just showing off." Druid mused out.

"Naw, well, okay, maybe a little," Statson admitted. "Each department has a unique way of doing things, and that includes driving. So I was testing them out a little."

"See, Bryson, he had a plan, sort of." Druid tried to cheer Bryson up.

He just gave her a stern look before turning back to the window with a scoff as a Monitor Robot passed by. "it's easy enough to deal with them right now." His fingers were icing over with ice. "I can make it look like an accident."

"Hey, stop that!" Statson growled out. "Where you're head gone too, boy. Go cool your head. I'm handling it."

Bryson gave Statson a long look before stalking off up the stairs, probably to his bedroom.

"What's the hell wrong with him," Statson sighed underneath his breath.

"I'm sorry about that. Bryson is just worried. He has a hard time thinking outside the box," Druid answered with a worried look. 'And if I'm in danger, he tends to go overboard. Though the way he's acting was a little much.'

"Ice boy needs to be more flexible." Statson just shook her head.

"Do you need anything? I can help," Druid asked, looking up at Statson, but she couldn't help but glance at the staircase wistfully. Druid needed to check on Bryson. He seemed so wound up lately.

Statson slowly shook his head. "Naw, It's my problem. I will deal with it." When Druid hesitated. "Shoo, Shoo. Kids need their sleep."

Druid gave up and moved toward the stairs, leaving Statson as he slumped on the couch, with a beer in his hand, looking at it. "I probably can't drink this until I deal with my 'guests.'" There was a pause. "Naw." As he chugs the bottle down.

***

"Why did he have to show up? It's such a hassle." A man with a shaved head g.r.o.a.n.e.d. "We should get this over with; I'm starving." He was way too eager.

Sighing the other man stretched, showing off his neck tattoo, "Thomas, please a little more prudence, the man used to be a comrade."

"Ha comrade, that guy was a shithead. He kept sticking his nose where it didn't belong." Thomas shot back. "Didn't think you would have a soft spot for him. Jared?"

"Hmm." Jared thoughtfully replied. "I wouldn't go that far, but respect? Most certainly. He was a steadfast guy; what's not to respect."

"Statson's is going what he deserved, I'll say." He spotted Statson coming out of the townhouse. "He's coming out, that's great! We can finally get this over with."

"Ha, don't be too hasty, he knows we're here!" Jared advised. "Don't underestimate him."

"This our only chance. Come on!" Thomas argued, impatiently.

"Thomas, I don't think…" But Thomas already left, Jared could only sigh. "Might as well keep him out of trouble."

***

Statson wasn't stupid; he knew that they would follow him as soon as he stepped outside. "The bar is only a couple miles, might as well walk," Statson said out loud.

'Yes, come on, follow me, you chumps.' He needed to find a dead zone, then let see what Statson's stalkers want. They were more littered in the lower sections, but there were still quite a few in the middle section.

'There!' Statson turned into the side alleyway. 'Now, all I have to do is wait.'

Statson didn't have to wait for long, as the young, stupid one, popped his head in his line of sight. He grabbed the boy and slammed him into the wall. The boy tried to choke out a curse, but Staton wouldn't let him and had to stun him to keep him quiet. Statson caught the boy, laid him down unconscious.

He moved back, holding his gun listening to the other man footsteps, he frowned, it was taking far too long, the footsteps were in the other direction. Statson instantly pointed his gun at the dazed young man. "Come on out, and we can have a nice chat, shaw we?" Statson called out.

As the man came out of the shadows, pointing his gun toward Statson. Statson recognized him immediately. "Tat-man, it's been a while."

Jared gave a strained smile. "You and your nicknames."

"So why are you following me, huh?" Statson asked bluntly; he didn't like word games.

"I came to deliver a message," Jared replied, his eyes darted down at the stunned kid.

"All this fuss over a message?" Statson asked, not buying it. There got to be more than that.

"They want the message to be very clear," Jared told Statson. His meaning was crystal.

"I didn't think thug works was your style."

Jared just shrugged, raising his gun. "Needs must; they thought that have someone you get along would have more impact. Why don't you let go of Thomas, hmm?"

"Thomas? The kiddo that used to follow you around like a leased puppy?" Glanced sideways at him incredulously, as he recalled, the boy had more fire than sense.

���Are you that worried about him?" Statson asked.

"Not at all," Jared matter a factly. "But it gives us this opportunity. No? For old times sake."

Statson laughed. " Oh, you haven't changed one bit. So what's that message?"

"Neither have you." Jared shivered a little. Statson could feel it to the air was getting a little chilly. "The message is very mundane. 'Get out of Towa, or else,' something like that." Jared said flippantly with a roll of his eyes; he looked like he wasn't thrilled to be reduced for

"Ha! That's it! Sorry to disappoint you, but I can't comply. I have work to do that has nothing to do with you guys." Statson said firmly.

"I thought that was the case, I wish this could be all absolved at the border, but you squeeze yourself in." Jared clicked his tongue, distastefully. "so I have to be the bad guy and managed to threaten kids, hah."

"Don't threaten my kids; you might not like the results," Statson growled, threateningly. "Tell those boot lickers that I come by to hand in my walking papers, officially and all that. But if I see you, and this pipsqueak again…" Statson kicked at imaginary dirt.

Jared's smile became cold. "You're so predictable sometimes, Statson." He moved his gun to point at Thomas.

Statson was startled. "What are you…"

"If I can't make you leave willingly, then in chains will have to do." Statson was about to squeeze the trigger to stop Jared.

"So cold." Thomas hissed out as he jerked back into consciousness. The chilly air almost became unbearable. "Ha, did we messed him up yet?"

Jared was startled, letting go of the gun, rubbed his wrist to get the frost off of it. He glared at Statson. "Statson you…" Reaching out for Statson.

Statson grabbed onto Thomas, then threw him at Jared. He scooped up Jared's gun; with one hand, he emptied the clip and threw it at the both of them. He was still holding his gun steady. "I'm done dealing with the both of you. Leave now!"

"Come on, we can talk about this," Jared advised calmly.

"Leave! Or you will be the reason why I would be in a cage." Statson ordered. "And tell your bosses I will be seeing them soon."

Jared took the confused Thomas, and they both stumbled out of the alley, waving his hand in farewell.

"Now, why would Tat-man go that far?" Statson pondered. "Hah, Ice boy?"

The space to Statson's right rippled, and Bryson was standing there, staring at his b.a.r.e hand. He looked up to Statson. "You knew it was me?"

"Who else could it be?" Statson rolled his eyes at Bryson's antics. Giving the boy a stern look. "Tell me why."

"Like I said before, I needed more information," Bryson answered.

Bryson turned to the alley's entrance. "Wait a minute."

Then suddenly, Statson heard Thomas heard cried out. "Ah! A snake!" After that, a sound of gunshots echoed. They must have had an extra gun in the car.

"Unauthorised gunshots detected. Halt and be detained." An automatic voice sounds off. Monitor Robots, hate those things, and the reason why he was looking for a dead zone.

After that, footsteps came closer, which made Statson tense up but relaxed as Druid came into view. "You were in on this too?"

Druid smiled cutely. "They drove off, with that robot trailing after them," Druid informed the both of them. "Bryson wanted to make sure that they weren't coming back." Something slithered after Druid, then up her pant leg to wrap itself around her arm. It acted like a snake. Though with a closer inspection, the snake was made out of leather and wood, a whip... Druid's medium.

"That's new," Statson said, a little shell shocked.

"Yes, it is." Druid made cooing noises, and it hissed in response.

'Naw, That's not creepy.'

Statson turned back to Bryson. "And," he prompted. "You did all this to get information. So…."

Bryson wiped his hand on a hanky. "I need more time to process, but essentially they were afraid." Bryson ice blue eyes stared back at Statson. "The man you came here to look for?"

"Grayson, yes."

"He's dead."