Wasteland

Chapter Four

Deesee-

 Deesee sat in the Dining Hall toying with his bread. He wasn't hungry now, as always. Moments before she left, he had contemplated offering Frey his meal, but before he could, she had simply stood up and left. That left him to contemplate the wonders of the under-cooked bread, which was now beginning to become soggy from the vegetables inside. Bored, he too stood up from the table leaving the bread to its fate and carefully weaved around the seated people who were feasting before a hard day's work. Strength had never been his forte, and the Elders had noticed that. Instead, he was posted in the museum, a spacious room that housed many artifacts from the time of the Ancients. These artifacts were to which he dedicated his time too, rarely leaving the museum was one of his hobbies and he even had his own room. Despite all the time hidden away, the rooms were covered in dust, and dis-interesting relics had begun to decay, losing features and recognisability. His real hobby lay on the clay outcrop that worked as a bench. Small green boards with funny symbols, pieces of unknown matter and twisted metal were strewn across it and the floor was festooned with broken pieces of relics. Or that is what it may have looked like to the other residents, but Deesee knew exactly what he was looking at; these were parts of the technology called 'Lectricity. One year out of school, and he was already delving into the depths of knowledge well beyond that of any Elder. As good as the story of the Ancients was, ten foot humans, the Tome and all, he was convinced there was more than ever anticipated. That's why when the sound of hissing, grinding and rumbling came of no surprise to him; he knew what was coming. Planted by the doorway, he watched the crack opened wider and wider, bathing the Main Chamber in a light so bright it blinded him. Despite the light, through squinted eyes, he saw a figure emerge. It was an ugly sight. It has three arms, two by its side and an extra one streaming behind him. Its body was a mass of moving parts, flapping and flailing. The beast was howling.
 The stories told nothing more after He will knock four times. They never said that He was an animal so terrifying, a savage that would kill them all. He shouldn't be here. We were all going to die.

 Frey-

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I could painstakingly make out details of the creature and realised it was not a creature at all! The man stepped into our home, dressed in the most peculiar outfit I had ever seen. Names of items, I could only guess from reading books in school, others that could only be from the strangest man's dreams. He wore some sort of glasses that covered his entire eyes, magnifying them and making them look huge. A spread of straggly blonde hair covered his head, some strands of which tumbled down over his strange glasses. Over his mouth was what resembled a towel, obscuring his mouth completely from view. It was tucked into what I could recall as a scarf, which had its loose ends flailing wildly, as if by magick. The coat he wore was fastened by a series of tiny metal teeth that had a chunky triangle of shiny metal at the top and the collar had been folded over. On his left arm was a cloth stained red. Blood. Through those glasses, I saw him look into me. His big eyes felt like they were boring through my skin. Then his gaze shifted from me, to the doorway of the Dining Hall. A quick glance backward showed me that the rest of the Hole's residents were huddled together, headed by Deesee. He was as white as a sheet. My gaze was averted back to the newcomer. He was still screeching horribly, but over the sound that was making my world turn upside down, I could hear him say something.
 "Close the door..." was what it sounded like. My eyes were wide. He could speak! I shook my head vigorously but my voice was caught in my throat. Quicker than I imagined anyone could move, he did; disappearing around the side of the Door. Seconds past like minutes, but then the rumble began again, the ground began to shift and the metal jaws of the Door started to grind shut. Worry spread across me like a chill as hunks of clay began to topple from the roof, pelting the ground and exploding into small piles of mist. The doors we closing fast, faster than they opened, and for a moment I believed that the strange man may not make it back inside, but as the wall left most of the door slumped in a last effort of standing, he re-appeared. Scarf billowing, he lurched through the Door before bending over, huffing. The howling cut out as the doors groaned for the last time before sealing shut, sending a final shower of dust and clay raining down upon the chamber. I couldn't help feeling that there was going to be trouble. I didn't know how, or who with but at that moment, I was embraced in a chill that rippled under my skin. I was rooted to the spot, partially by fear, but mostly by shock. I watched as he stood up, facing me. At his full height, he was taller than me, but not by much. I shrunk back as he began to walk towards me, and from in his coat he drew some sort of tool. It looked like something Deesee talked about, but I couldn't remember anything. It was all happening to quick, and my brain couldn't process what was happening. Before I knew it I had tumbled backwards over my own feet and landed on the hard ground. A tight hand gripped the collar of my tunic and hoisted me to my feet. Then he pushed the tool to my head and spoke for the first time.

Deesee-

 Even from a distance, Deeesee could see what it was and what it could do. If his index finger so much as twitched, the lever beneath it would set off a series of motions, propelling the "U" shaped metal hunk through Frey's skull, and he held it like he knew that. The outsider's voice was like nothing he had ever heard before. It was commanding and gruff, but at the same time Deesee could hear a level of fear mixed in with the macho.
 "Everybody, freeze" the newcomer growled, "Or I'll do it!"
The crowd was confused.
 "Do what?" asked Elric. Gathered with the rest of the residents, he clearly didn't understand what was going on or what that tool the outsider held was capable of. The outsider seemed surprised.  With a dry throat, Deesee stepped forward.
 "Please, Sir," he began, using a term drilled into him by Kip, the Hole's teacher. "There is no need for that. Put that tool down and we can help you!"
 He could tell that the outsider was considering his proposal. Behind those glasses, his eyes had that glint of intelligence, and he was clearly weighing up his options. At last Deesee could let out a sigh of relief as the tool was lowered, and placed back inside the folds of the outsider's jacket. Frey swayed a little as he released her, but she stayed upright. Snapping back into reality, she hopped away from him and he hung his head while raised his arms from his sides, baring all. Deesee's heart was pounding. He could feel it trying to rip its way from his chest, but despite this he walked bravely towards the stranger. The outside's arms dropped back to his sides as Deesee approached him. It was a long walk, but soon he stood before the outsider. The hand that once held the tool shot out. Deesee shank back, and the outsider looked puzzled.
 "You are supposed to shake it" he said. It was Deesee's turn to look confused. "Like, grab it, and kinda move... Ya know, never mind." The hand was retracted once more, and Deesee began to feel more comfortable. Questions were streaming through his head. Where was he from, how did he find them? Why was he here? He decided to start with the most obvious question.
 "Who are you?" whispered Deesee.
 "The name is Jason Cross. Local Techie, well, ex techie anyhow. Need anything fixed? Well, I'm ya man!" Deesee was stunned.
 "Tech-E? What is a Tech-E?"
 "Ya, wha? Well, young mate. Ya need ya watch fixed, maybe ya calcumalator? I can do it in a jiffy! Ima techspert me; Master of the electrics! But if ya don't mind, ya promised help, and uh, I'm kinda bleedin here..." Deesee couldn't tell, but behind the red handkerchief that masked the outsider's face, the skin was bone white, drained of blood. Before he could react, the outsider toppled onto Deesee, hands extended. He was unconscious before Deesee could lowered him to the ground.