The Wastelands

Towa

Druid was on the couch, having some tea playing with her medium. It was still a whip, but now it behaved like a snake. Ever since she woke after her medium remerged, it acted as such. She wasn't the only one; she heard that twins had a similar experience. Druid doesn't know about Bryson, though, but his medium wasn't hanging from his belt anymore.

Personally, Druid was delighted, she always liked animals, but they ran away from her for some reason. And having her medium act like one was the next best thing.

"Whippy, your so cute, yes you are." Druid cooed at it, petting down the side, and the whip responded, leaning into Druid's touch. After a few moments, Whippy settled down Druid flicked on the screen.

'Be advised that there was a report of a sudden temperature drop to below freezing due to Weather system malfunction. The proper channels have been notified, and maintenance will begin post hast. Furthermore, a wild creature was spotted…'

Druid looked up when Statson stomped in from the front door, swearing up a storm. "Any progress?" Druid asked. She thought that Statson was visiting the WMP offices. It looked like it didn't go well.

"They wouldn't even let me through the front door. Damn bastards!" Statson huffed out as he flopped in the armchair. Please, his cowboy hat on the table. "I don't know what the hell is going on anymore, and with Grayson dead, my only lead had flown the coop."

"That bad, huh?"

"If I didn't know any better, I think the whole department was spooked." Statson sighed in resignation.

"Do you really think so?" Druid asked. Truthfully, she freely admitted that dirty cops were not something she had experienced. Handsy a.d.u.l.ts sure, but this was way over her head.

"What's else is there? The man in that alleyway wasn't the Tat-man I knew. He was one of the good ones." Statson ran his finger's through his hair in frustration.

"Maybe something changed." Druid paused in thought. An image flashed in her mind. "Maybe there was a reason for his actions."

That got Stetson's attention. "You got something, Fire Princess."

"Maybe there was something more to his action than threatening you to leave?" Druid questioned. "What about that young man?"

"The Rookie? I barely knew the guy, though. What I saw of him wasn't much to look at. He's pretty much a brown noser." He leaned forward. "Are you sure? I've seen Tat-man eyes. He really was trying to kill the kid."

"I don't know, just a hunch, maybe." Druid's vision wasn't clear, but it told her that the young man was the right path to take. She was grateful to get anything at all; her foresight was still a foggy mess. "Though maybe it's more to do with who he's connected to. What is his name?"

Statson looked up thoughtfully. "Barkly? Timberly? Something with a 'ly' at the end."

"Beakley, Thomas Beakley. His father has ties in Deken's Pharmaceutical." Bryson's voice cut in, and Druid's eyes moved towards the stairs. Looking immaculate as ever, Bryson walked behind Druid and laid his gloved hand on her shoulder. Druid leaned into the touch, but she couldn't help but be worried. She could see his brow wrinkled; he must still have a headache.

"Doing okay?" Druid asked, concerned.

Bryson smiled, the kind of smile he only showed to Druid. "I'm fine."

"Can you quit it with the lovey-doveyness and get back to business. Did you see anything else? Like why Tat-man was acting the way he was. Or what their next moves are," Statson growled out, impatiently.

"Do you think I'm your cheat sheet or something?" Bryson fired back at Statson. "If you want me to do your work for you, then you can get on your knees…"

"Watch it, Ice Boy." Statson stood up to confront Byson, even though he was a little shorter than Bryson Statson presence alone appears to tower over the younger man. "I know how to handle your kind."

Though that didn't stop Bryson from stepping forward; his eyes flashing in determination, the temperature dropping as he

That was when Druid grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side. "Bryson, stop it." Druid gave Bryson a look before turning to Statson. "What's he trying to say is not that he won't tell you. It's more so that he can't tell you."

"Druid." Bryson protested.

"In Bryson's case, the mind is like storage, and you could only store so much, and with his eidetic memory, things become ten times harder. Bryson can't afford to touch them longer; he was taking a big risk touching an extra person." Druid prowled through, in a rush,

Bryson turned his nose up. "Hmph, I rather not touch them regardless, who knows where they have been." Making sure how great a sacrifice he made.

Druid almost laughed at how Bryson like he sounded, and she sighed in relief. 'He's back to his old self, thank God.'

Statson was silent for a moment as he sat back down. "What are the side effects?

"At best headaches, at worst Bryson could go into a coma," Druid answered. Bryson turned his face to the side with his arms crossed; he doesn't like to admit to weakness.

Statson just sighed. "Okey, what do you have."

"Other than that, Grayson is dead? Hmm, Jared Green had every attention of killing Thomas. Apparently, he outlived his usefulness." Bryson yawned at that. "How common."

"Bryson!" Statson growled.

"Fine." Bryson rolled his eyes to show how much he disliked being growled at. "Jared Green really wanted to kill him though, 'hated the little rat' not my words but his. Don't really blame him. Thomas Beakley was a typical rich boy, could get away with murder. He did actually, plus multiple other offences, including ****." Bryson look of distaste said it all. Druid shivered and wrapping her around herself. She hated that word. "I wish I could scrub my brain, just like hands, after touching that sc.u.mbag."

"If he was that rich, why did they want to kill him?" Statson asked.

"Maybe he's rich, but not that rich, maybe he's a dumbass and made too many mistakes. I say both." Bryson paused, a thoughtful look passed on his face. "There was one thing that was odd."

"What?"

"With Jared? What was foremost in his memories was related to a young boy with similar features. His son, maybe?" Bryson questioned with a thoughtful expression.

"A son hmm, or maybe a nephew," Statson said thoughtfully, tapping the side table. "He never mentioned someone like that."

"Well, other than Deakin Pharmaceuticals, I don't see any relevant information," Bryson stated.

"Keep it under our hats just in case. Never know what's relevant until it is," Statson advised, and he sighed.

"Deakin Pharmaceuticals? Where did I hear that before?" Druid questioned, tapping her lip.

Bryson smirked, and Druid realized that he was waiting for that question. "That's because Elliot Deakin, the CEO, is going to the compound event we're attending, and they happen to be one of the leading contributors."

"Hmm, I don't think I remember him from last year." Druid pondered thoughtfully. In fact, she didn't recall that anyone from Deakin attending.

"Because they haven't," Bryson confirmed. "Strange, I know. Why this year?"

"Deakin, hmm? I heard that name before. I think they are associated with Castie Hospital, but they usually take a back seat." Statson stated thoughtfully.

"The event is a good chance to get more information," Bryson said; he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Who's to say that you even get close to the man." Statson wondered.

Druid and Bryson shared a look before Druid turned to Statson. "We have a contact that might help." Statson still had a doubtful look. "Cheer up. We do this all the time. That's how we met, remember?"

"True, but this is my problem. To get you kids involved any more than you are, doesn't sit right to me." Statson looked away when he said it like he didn't want to admit it.

Druid couldn't help but tease. "Ah, you do care." Holding her arms wide. "Want a hug?" Statson glared at her until Druid's arms dropped. "Maybe not." Though she wasn't shocked, she expected that reaction from Statson.

Bryson coughed. "As much I hate to admit, we're involved just by being here. So finding out what's going on is a matter of survival more than anything else."

"I have a bad feeling like the whole city is out to get us. Maybe it's time to leave." Statson stated.

"Leave?" Druid asked.

Bryson added, "At least they wouldn't do anything again until after the event. Too many people are expecting us."

"We can't leave the city; they'll have the borders watched." Druid continued.

"If push comes to shove, I might have a place. Maybe they might have some information as well." Statson sounded reluctant.

"Sergeant, you don't sound too sure.?" Bryson asked.

"She'll help, but it will take some explaining," Statson said when Druid opened her mouth. "Don't ask." Statson held up his hand to stop her.

"Okay." Druid agreed, but it made her even more curious. She could smell a story.

"Anyways, I better check over my outfit." Bryson was about to go up the stairs and then stopped to look at Statson shrewdly. "I better check on yours's as well."

"Ha, I don't have an outfit." Statson protested.

"Of course, you do. The Headmistress had something made." Bryson tsked.

"Why didn't you tell me. I know how to pick my own clothes." Statson grumbled.

Bryson just looked at the older man before walking up the stair, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake.

"That brat," Statson said, gruffly, but he didn't attempt to follow him.

They sat in silence for a moment when Druid spoke up. "Sergeant?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for allowing Bryson to follow you to that alleyway," Druid said.

"I don't know what…" Statson began to deny but was stopped by Druid's look. "Great to see him so humbled. Enough was enough; the boy needed his confidence back. Though I didn't think it would go that sideways I was grateful to have his help." He squinted his eyes at her. "Your pretty observant, aren't you?"

Druid smiled at the compliment. "How did you know he would follow you."

Statson snorted. "That boy would take any opportunity to one-up me. I just gave him an opening."

"In any case, thank you." After the Shadow incident, it was hard to see him so defeated. So Druid was grateful to see Bryson back to his prideful self again.

"Just don't tell Ice boy, here me?" Statson ordered.

Druid nodded her head in agreement. "I won't. We have enough to deal with, anyway."

"I hear you, I hear you." Statson sighed in resignation. "I need a drink." He got up to get one.

Druid didn't drink alcohol, but at the moment, she was tempted to join him. Here forward, she didn't need her foresight that there were rough times ahead.

A feeling, a need to escape this city, swelted within her c.h.e.s.t.

Druid's foresight whispered. 'This is where you should be.' That scared her all the more.

***

Meanwhile, in the lower section, a young man was walking down the street. He had a sandwich in his jacket pocket. All he could think about was getting to a safe place. So, he had a chance to eat.

Then suddenly, a hand, out of nowhere, grabbed him, covering his face. Before he had the chance to struggle, he was dragged into the darkness.