The Wastelands

Tunnel Base

"Are the drones up and running?" Deakin eyed the guard like he was nothing but an insect.

The guard bowed. "They're ready to fly, Sir."

"And the Ridden?"

"The Zomb… um, the Ridden are being dragged as we speak." The guard confirmed.

"Good, make sure they get a clear view when those… creatures… go in for the kill," Deakin replied, thoughtfully. "If those failures, only real value are unstoppable killing machines, so let's sell them to anyone willing to pay."

"Yes, sir," The guard's eyes looked conflicted. "But we haven't found Miss. Castie just…"

"And how exactly is that my problem?" Deakin interrupted abruptly.

"No, um."

"Do I have to…listen…The shields are up, aren't they?" Deakin growled, grabbed the guard and pushed him to the door. "Then they show up eventually, understand?" The guard nodded. "Good, now get the hell out of here." And pushed him out the door.

Deakin turned around, making sure that the door was shut behind him. "Morans all of them. Like I need such an insignificant…."

The door opened once again. "Didn't I tell you not to…." He rounded on the person who had the gall to interrupt him, then stopped. "Why are you doing here?"

"Reporting in, like promised." A man with strawberry hair and bronze skin bowed elegantly. Then looking deliberately, "But sir, can you afford to stand around ideally? Now Where is Stella Spencer?"

"Vance." Deakin gritted her teeth. "Like I said, you will get her as soon as you get rid of those Lumeye."

"With all due respect," Vance stated with a scoff. "Those Lumeye wannabes are not worth my time. I've heard that Stella has barricaded herself within one of your operator's rooms with your brother and that uncooperative scientist. They're making a real mess out of your systems. Heard that half the base is shut down. So can you afford to play around with your failed experiment? Although I hear that"

Deakin clenched his fist. That arrogant little… "Then why don't you help?"

Vance sigh. "I would, but I'm afraid that I'll cook them alive."

Deakin cursed. He didn't care about that girl or his useless brother, but Dr. Herendex. She was the only one capable of helping with his experiment. He still believes that the Ripples was the only way for humanity to advance into the next evolutionary stage. And his Artificial Ripples were the way to do it. He doesn't care how many sacrifices would be made, as long as it worked on one person, just one person….

"And the other Lumeye."

"All are otherwise indisposed. Taking care of those children, you seemed so concerned about. I'm sorry for the inconvenience," Vance dismissed.

Deakin sighed. "If we can't get that door, all we could is to wait them out. They can't stay in there forever."

Vance game Deakin a look. "Can you afford to do that?"

It pains him to admit that Vance was right. Half of the systems were shut down for the short-term; nothing significant l was affected, but for the long-term? Yes, he needed them out, but unfortunately, that room happened to be built like a bomb shelter.

"Yes, It's quite inconvenient, "The man's eyes brightened as he stepped closer. "Since Stella was part of our deal."

Deakin sneered and reached for his necktie, no the tiny stone resting at its center. "Careful, Vance, don't come any closer. I hold your leash, remember."

Vance just gave him a pitying look before stepping back. "I apologized for the disrespect…. But fair warning. You and my Lord have a long-standing relationship, so I hope you don't do anything to jeopardize that." He paused. "Hopefully, your failed experiment will turn into a benefit," He chuckled. "But, of course, you need us to control them to impress your buyers."

Deakin glared at the Lumey's retreating back and wished he never got in bed with those Lumeye bastards in the first place. Because even if he took over the police, taking out his greatest rival, then the Cities Council itself. All his plans would come to nothing if the Lumeye decided to make their move. Who can stop an army of superpowered freaks?

Even those collars around their neck weren't enough to stop them. Because they're just too many of them.

"Just one, I just need one," He whispered. "Too close. I can't stop now."

Tunnels

"Talon?" Bryson asked.

"Hell!" Statson cursed as he tried to grab hold of the falling Jared, but they both tumbled down over the edge.

"Statson." Druid cried out, but before she could do anything, another Talon grabbed her and threw Druid with a gash of air. Druid could only watch as Bryson sliced through one Talon, but two more showed up, and Bryson used ice to slide down to the ground below. Druid teleported beside him.

"Bryson?" Druid asked, just as the tunnels filled up with fog and dozens of Talons curled up. Druid's flames took out a couple, and ice spikes shot out from the ground piercing several more. "It's useless if we can't find the real one…."

Suddenly a roar echoed, "Garth, goddamnit." Bryson ġrȯȧnėd. "That's all I need." He looked conflicted for a second. Then, "Druid, I hate to admit it, but you need to find Statson. If he's with Jared, then Talon might be nearby to finish the job."

"It could be just one of her doubles," Druid supplied as her whip grabbed on a Talon and threw fire at another.

"Believe me, Talon likes to get… personal," Bryson sliced through another Talon. Druid wanted to ask how Bryson knew that, but then the ground started to tremble, and a wolfman came in, claws scraping the tracks. "Go. I'll take care of him!" Bryson skated around the Talon clones to meet Garth.

Druid stood there for a second, frustrated. "Bryson, what are you doing?" But could only sigh and n her back. Her eyes searched everywhere, but it was hard to see with all this fog. "They couldn't have fallen far." Druid teleported from one corner to the next. "Where are you? Where are you." Until finally spotting Statson's hat buried underneath some rumble.

As she touched the hat, a vision flashed. Statson hands coated in blood and Jared's way too pale face. Then, a voice, her voice, whispered, "Look up," She looked up, and there was Statson, shoved into a crevice a couple feet above her head.

Druid climbed up and touched Statson's shoulder; Statson jumped and went for his gun, "No worries, it's me."

He relaxed. "Fire Princess." He was busy putting pressure on Jared's wound. There was blood everywhere.

"We can't stay here!"

"I know, but…." Statson eyes moved to Jared. He didn't look good. "There's too much blood. I can't…." He let out a shuttering breath.

Druid paused. She knew what a dying man looked like, and she was staring right at him. At this point, she didn't think Terran could save him. "Statson…"

There was desperation in Statson's eyes. "We have to do something. I don't care what he did before. But, we have to try. Please! He's my friend."

Druid sighed. "I could cauterize the wound, but I don't think he'll…."

"Please," Statson pleaded.

She gave Statson a long look before heating up her hand, and she was about to press when Jared's hand shot out, stopping her. "Don't." Jared gasped out.

"Tat-man…"

"I'm done for…just please…save him…my nephew…they kidnapped…holding him…I didn't want to…." His body stilled.

"Goddamnit," Statson cursed as he slammed his fist into his legs.

There was no time to grieve as a voice chimed in. "Too bad. I don't think you need this, though." Talon had Statson's gun and threw it away.

Statson sneered. "You bitch." Tackling her out into the open Tunnel. Statson was swinging at Talon, but Talon just kicked him away.

Druid tried to dropkick her, but a wall of Talons caught her foot. Every one of them left their arms, then a channel of wind hitting Druid point blank, making her tumble head over foot, and landed hard.

Druid ġrȯȧnėd, struggling to get up. Then Bryson jumped past, and he got his sward up just as that wolfman Garth slammed into him, pushing him back. Garth was biting down on Bryson's sword, and Bryson had an ice shield up, but it was no use. Garth gathered his strength and rammed Bryson into the wall, making a hole. As they both disappeared inside, the wall collapsed behind them.

"Bryson!!" Druid cried out. Then she heard mȯȧning and shouting. "What now!" Looking up to find only guns pouring into the tunnels, they seemed to be shooting at something else. That was when those things with pulsing Vine markings stumbled in. "Great just, great!" Then the screaming began.

***

Tunnel Base

Shadow pulled his shadows close as the Zombies slashed at him. He knocked them down in one wave, but the Zombies are slowly stumbling back up. Shadow ignored them; his eyes never left the white-hair youth. That's when he heard a dinging sound. Shadow moved just slightly, and something whirled past his head. Blood tingled down his neck; Shadow watched as the object bounced off a door before settling back into the youth's hands.

"A boomerang, huh," Shadow mused, but the youth didn't move an inch other than throwing the boomerang, and the dinging sound commenced. "So the Zombies was just a distraction, interesting."

Shadow got low. Just as the boomerang snipped by, the speed was even quicker as it hit another wall. Zombies fell on top of him, clawing and tearing, but the only thing they caught was one of his Phantoms. That Phantom was joined by another, then another.

Phantom and Zombies clashed as Shadow used the chaos to melt into shadows.

Shadow's eyes, never leaving the motionless youth. "Hide and seek, huh. I'm more than game," His smile turned predatory. Beyond the sounds of the fighting, the dining sound continued.

The youth smiled back.