Deep in the outskirts of the bones zone, heavy boots trail across the ground, leaving dread behind with each step they take.
"Oh come on! Do you need me to do it? Or do you think for once jamie you can set one straight?!"
As he knocks the wheezing boy to the ground, Jamie couldn't help but look at the hopeless look in his eyes. That craved warmth but was too scared to ask. It was a feeling Jamie knew all too well that tore at his heart every day. But in that moment of shared despair, everything in his heart told Jamie to grab the boy and run away. An for once, he listened to it and pushed his comrades weapon away.
"I don't care what the rules are anymore Winic! I won't let you or anyone else take such an innocent life away! He's practically begging for help! How could you kick him away?!"
Rolling his eyes as he shrugs his shoulders tossing Jamie to the side, Winic aims his right hand to the child. Expanding ten rings from the palm of his metallic arm. Only for Jamie to jump in between them refusing to back down. An even though he was reluctant to, Winic had no choice but to stand down.
"See your still so damn soft! Fine Jamie he can get away. Now let's get a move on already! You know SOME OF US can't just run away from our duties!"
Crossing his arms as Jamie throws the boy over his back and wipes the blood from his lips, Winic can only shake his head.
"You and me both know that'll hurt him before it helps him, the kids got nowhere to go!"
Turning with intense passion, Jamie throws an idea Winic's way.
"That's only if I leave him here, not if I bring him back with me!"
Smacking his palm onto his face, Winic can't help but let out a sigh.
"What?! Hell no! That's a horrible idea! You know damn well the captain won't let you bring back a stray, an even if he did it won't sit we'll with the other guys!"
Furrowing his brow with an annoyed expression on his face, Jamie twitches his eye.
"Who cares what they think?! He's innocent and won't take up much space!"
"Wether you care of not, you should know better than anyone… that they won't let anyone who doesn't belong stick around. If they see him he'll be beaten up or worst! They'll dock your pay!"
Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, Jamie grabs onto the child and places a clear necklace with an oval shaped gem around his neck.
"If nothing else will work then help me get him in my place, I'll take care of him alone as my own!"
Placing his hand on his chin, Winic strokes his scraggy beard and considers the pros and cons of involving himself with the kid.
Hmmmm. I don't know but it would give me a nephew to spoil in my old age. Would the kid even like me after striking him like that though? No no surely he will if I spoil him with gifts he'll see it was an accident.
imagining a grand life with Jamie, the boy, and him, Winic smiles as he holds his hand out and gently pats it on Jamie's head.
"Oh baby brother! Of course I'll help you! That's what big brothers are for!"
Squatting down and looking into the frail boys, clear, white eyes, Winic asks him a question as he wipes the last of the blood from his lips.
"So nephew what's your name?"
After a long pause as he stares back into Winics dark, red eyes, one word slips from his mouth as tears begin to form in his clear, white eyes.
"Rider!"
Smiling as he lifts him up onto his shoulders, Winic looks to Jamie.
"Come on! We'll go this way and be quick because we don't have much time."
Shocked to see Winic's drastic change of heart, Jamie runs behind him with one question in mind.
"How are we going to get past the rest of the unit?"
Grinning manically from ear to ear, Winic balls a fist and throws it in the air.
"Just follow my plan!"
confused, Jamie scrunches up his face and balls up his hand.
"WHAT'S THE PLAN?! YOU CAN'T JUST THROW UP YOUR HAND!"
Shaking his head, Winic makes shadow puppets with his hands and sends one sailing across the air as they pretend to fight with something close to their chest.
"You get it now? Or are you stupider than ever?"
With an annoyed look Jamie nods his head and picks up his pace.
"Yeah, yeah sounds good to me, let's get this started then!"
With a loud bang Jamie's body flys across the the sky sailing into a building as Winifred slams down hard into the ground.
"You JACKASS! That's what you get for talking to your older brother like that! Don't get out of line!"
Throwing himself to his feet, Jamie slides up to Winic and lunches his fist at his face only to be slammed through the ground.
"Pathetic! When we get back home, I'll have to train you some more!"
Overjoyed by the commotion the soldiers gathered around to watch Winic let loose as they place their bets.
"Wow, he's really letting him have it!"
"Yeah but you know we can't get in between that! Besides they fight all the time it's a sibling thing!"
"Maybe for them but I've never fought mines like that!"
"That's because your siblings aren't second to only the captains! Flaunting that kind of power in front of him all the time must be hard on Jamie to live up to! The kids plenty strong already but his brother's at a level not many can beat!"
"Yeah but do you really expect a Captain candidate to care? The only reason he's even with us still is so he can train him. Winic's far past a Captain if he gives it all he's got!"
"I bet he goes down in ten this time!"
"Ten?! That's why to high! I bet he'll fall in three!"
Running up and throwing his arms around the the two men, a tall man with a faint glow in his eyes holds them tight as he shakes from side to side. With a cheeky expression written all over his face.
"You both overlook what's important as usual… he's holding back so it's clearly twenty two!"
Throwing their heads back as they let out a hearty laugh they quickly scramble to put their hands together side by side watching anxiously as their Izoa's come online and virtual chips begins to fall in place.
"I'll take you up on that then!"
"Me two!
"Me three!"
Among all the commotion a massive flare of animus rips through the ground as Jamie laughs while holding his side.
"That's what you get for talking big, you should really watch you-"
With a thunderous punch, Jamie's body leans to the side and it all fades to black.
I know, I know a hell of a cliff hanger but you'll have to wait for that. Don't worry it won't be too long so let get back to our fearless warrior for now!
With a imprint of a fist between his eyes Iramo falls into a large door that vanishes the moment they touch, sending him tumbling across the ground.
"EHHHHHH! You didn't have to hit me so hard! I only asked if you changed me yourself!"
Blushing as her eye twitches, Saranai holds her fist up and walks past Iramo laying on the ground, holding his head.
"Sounds like you wanna get hit again, because you know I did! You don't have to ask! Now hurry and get up! we made it to the first stop on our tour."
Tossing his head back, Iramo saw a room with an open plane filled with wild life as far as the eye could see. An in an instance he appeared by Saranai's side, scratching his head.
"I'm not sure if she told you but I'm pretty sure Maradi said if I leave from inside of here I'm dead so I'll pass on going outside."
Rolling her eyes, Saranai press her hands into his chest as she leans up and brings her lips to his ear.
"I didn't know you were the type to do everything your told… but don't worry we're still inside."
Sliding her finger up and down his chest, Saranai stares at him with a longing look as she pulls away.
"An if don't go out as you, I'm sure you'll be alright."
With a foggy brain, Iramo follows along thinking the moment over in his head letting his mind drift away.
Well she is from here so i'm sure it'll be fine if I go out with her to see what the people are like. But if I do thoughhhh im pretty sure Maradi will beat my ass. But if she never finds out i'll be okay! I think my best bet is to listen to the boss lady and if things look bad we can just run away!
Pulling him back to reality with a gentle touch on his lower forearm, Iramo locks in as he looks ahead at the flowing green water around an all white building with no way to look inside.
"What's this?"
Stepping in front of him Saranai puts a finger over her lips and turns him away.
"Our little secret for now but I promise I'll share it with you soon! Now come on, let's go explore the other rooms!"
Throwing his hands forward as he spins around, Iramo takes exaggerated steps, flailing his body around as he drifts side to side, bobbing his head.
"Works for me boss lady, can we go get something to eat?"
It makes sense she'd have secrets, come to think of it she was searching for something when she found me. Maybe she's studying how that happened to the Devions so she can cure them one day. Either way for now it's best not to pry.
Saranai scowled at Iramo with a playful pout on her face as she trails behind.
"Your not even going to ask?"
Softly smiling as he sucks his teeth, raising his cheeks, Iramo wags his finger as they enter the halls.
Why would I? I'm sure you got your reasons."
Side eyeing Iramo, Saranai lets out a disappointed sigh as she turns he head away, opening up an oval shaped doorway, exuding heat.
"Your no fun."
Confused, Iramo raising his brow, questioning where he went wrong.
"What you wanted me to try?"
I feel like this is one of those trick questions though, she would be mad no matter what I reply. If thats the case though I might as well give it one more try.
Stepping into the doorway, Saranai side eyes Iramo as she shoots him a death stare, standing on the other side.
"Yeah but it's no fun if you have to ask so I'll pass. Now hurry up and get in here, before that door closes on you."
Smirking as he ducks down to enter, Iramo can't help but laugh noticing the door adjusted to her height. But also as if she could sense it, Saranai looked at him with pure annoying behind her eyes as she started cuffing up her fist ready for a fight.
"If you even think about saying it, you will be sleep for another day!"
An heading her warning, Iramo did the wisest thing he could which was to do nothing and hide his smile in his hand. Unfortunately that did not save him from Saranai's wrath, striking him in the back of the head with the strength of ten. Making him see stars as she introduces him to her friend.
"You said you were hungry and she was too so it's a perfect time to meet! This is Allie! She's going to join us while we eat and discuss our master plan!"
Shocked by the news Iramo's mouth hangs open wide.
"Wait hold up you have other people here besides the two of you?! She said we were all alone!"
Knowledge is better learned together than alone. But it's important to double check your steps so you can do it on your own!