Deviation Actions
Literature Text
As the road lead out to the riverside they got onto the big old motorway leading straight from the abandoned old Femir lake city towards new Devantos. A pillar of smoke rose to the sky from New Devantos. It could be seen from miles away.
Reed hadn't completely grasped the scale of the catastrophe until now. He couldn't help but wonder how many had died. How big part of the town was in ruins?
“Did a shifter cause this?” Diesel asked nervously as he saw the smoke.
“I don't know, most likely.” Reed stopped the car and went out to get a better look.
“Who could do something like that?”
“I don't know. Nuclear perhaps?” Reed said concerned. “He was the one to put the old Devantos in ruins I heard. Or maybe Antimatter…” He opened the car door and got seated yet again. Reed speeded up and Diesel clung onto the car interior.
The closer they got to town the better the road was. This part of the road was trafficked by landwalkers and similar robots transporting cargo too big for the tunnels in and out of the city. Reed had to take some detours as the old standard exit road was gone together with the whole mountain north of the district.
The red veteran car brought a lot of attention as the rolled into the district from the old highways. Reed parked the car at the middle of the main square, Right in front of a very displeased looking Shrapnel heading for the main entrance.
“Where have you been?!” Nell said very disapproving.
“Out on vacation, first a fly trip to the middle of nowhere, then I found a nice little town with a nice little sanctuary, a hostel and a car museum.” Reed said and peaked at Nell over his sunglasses. “I found myself a new nice ride as well.” The soldier beside him, dressed in a very unmodern uniform looked like he wanted to protest before Reed lay an arm over his shoulders. “I found myself a soldier as well.”
“I don't know if I should be angry or disappointed.” Nell said with a dead serious tone.
“How about a little bit of both?” Reed got out of the car and ignored the soldier behind him pleading for the keys. “Relax Nell, It wasn’t exactly a voluntary trip. I got back here as soon as I could.”
“I’m guessing this trip was your boyfriend’s idea?”
“If it hadn’t been for him we would probably have been squished under a pile of junk.” Reed turned to look at the giant pile of smoke. “I mean, is my house even still standing?”
“So you’re not denying it?”
“Denying what?”
“Don't act stupid. Helping Delmar hide from the council.”
Reed shrugged.
“Playing dumb is easier than trying to lie to you, I’m a bad liar and sometimes you take the bait and think I'm stupid.” he answered. “You who gladly boost you own confidence by labeling me as not so bright.”
Shrapnel just gave him another disapproving glance.
“I don’t know what there is to deny?” Reed shrugged and then returned the disapproving glance. “You know, I made no fuzz when you had a poisoned Dawson lying in your bed which you had revealed your identity to.”
“And I’m grateful for that. It’s just that you put me in a difficult position.”
“I put you in trouble? How come?”
“I don't know whether I should report you for treason or not, for keeping the psychic hidden in your apartment.”
“Oh, you meant a moral trouble? I thought you meant a real trouble.” Reed chuckled. “How did you know? Did the boy tell you?”
“That boy is as good at keeping secrets as a tabloid reporter.”
“Well yes, for the better and worse.” Reed sighed. “Is he alright?”
“Yes. Where is the ice shifter?”
“Delmar? I don't know, he's gone for real this time.” Reed shook his head. “I have no clue, he didn't even leave me a note.”
“How convenient.”
“Yeah? It was hella inconvenient for me! I had to walk back!” Reed complained.
“In your newly acquired car.”
“That was just pure luck I found it. Otherwise I would still be walking. So? What are you going to do? Tell on me?” he asked and crossed his arms.
“No. That would only cause more trouble. I need you for my plans.” Shrapnel answered and adjusted his glasses.
“You need me for your plans?” Reed laughed. “Who is it that sounds like a cartoon villain now?”
“I know what I sound like Reed.” Shrapnel growled in a most unusual tone. “You weren't here when it happened, you weren't here when…” Shrapnel took a deep breath. “Never mind. Just get back to your duties.”
“I wasn't here when what?” Reed asked concerned. “Did something happen to Inaida? Don't tell me he's dead.” Reed looked around at the ruins, “What is the death toll anyway? Do you know what happened?”
“Yes, but its better if you check the official reports.” Shrapnel said, and then added “Inaida is fine. And so is Ramsey. But a lot of people died.”
“I'm glad to hear the boy is alright. But talk to me Nell, I can tell something's wrong. Did the library collapse?” There was something off with Shrapnel’s tone and the way he acted. Reed thought it reminded him of grief, but the scorpion was hard to interpret. Most likely because he made no normal expressions. The easiest way to tell what Nell had on his mind was to listen to the sound of his voice. And what a voice… Shrapnel sounded like he constantly had a sore throat. Like he constantly had the worst imaginable cold. Rumor had it he hadn't always sounded like that. Rumor had it Nell had damaged his voice while learning how to shift. By screaming on the top of his lungs by pain every time he shifted he had damaged his vocal chords. Over and over again. Rumor had it His voice was a permanent wound.
“Half of the district collapsed, Reed. People died. The war escalated. What else do you want me to say?”
“Okay, okay. I know you're mad at me. Is Ramsey really okay?” Reed was worried, Nell wasn't the one who usually grieved and there wasn't that many people he kept close enough to grieve. Shrapnel look at him for a long time in silence.
“Did you hit your head in the explosion or something?”
“So what's the matter? I'm not stupid Nell. You don't get upset for people you don't know, this seems personal. If it's not Inaida, Ramsey or the library, then what?”
“You are a very perceptive douchebag.”
“I get that a lot.” Reed smiled.
“It is personal Reed, and not something I want to discuss on a sidewalk in front of a stranger and a stolen car.”
“Okay, I'll come by your office later then.” he shrugged.
“You are going to wish you’ll have the time for that.” Shrapnel said and handed him one of the folders he was carrying.
“I always have time for my friends!” Reed said and opened the folder to glance at it. “Urgh,” he shut it again. “I'll read that later. Do you know where I can park a car? I don't want it stolen.” The shifter behind him seemed like he wanted to protest again.
“Anywhere. The district is in chaos at the moment, so you just have to find a relatively even spot.”
Reed grunted displeased.
“Guess I’ll ask terra then. Oh by the way, do you know if Rot was still in town when this all went down? Is she alright?”
“Why do you care? She is not one of your old friends.”
“I heard she carried a newborn. I wanted to make sure they are alright.”
“They are fine. They wasn't in the district. Ramsey told me they went back to the forest.”
“Good.” he said relieved. “I should find Brannon, you know where he is?”
“Off doing your job I suspect.” Nell answered.
“Good. That's his job. Come on Diesel! We can park here for now.”
“But… but. No. There's no roof here!” Diesel objected.
“I said I was going to ask terra. Come on.” Reed answered casually. Shrapnel eyed Diesel in his old chemical uniform.
“You know about vehicles?” he asked.
“Y-yes?” Diesel answered.
“I need to move a ten ton piece of delicate equipment through heavy terrain, what should I use?”
“Strap it to some quadcopters?”
“Hm, not sure if I want it flying.”
“Then a heavy duty hover loader? A few of those were produced before robots took over everything. It of course depends on what the equipment looks like.” Diesel tried to explain.
“Naturally. You’ll come with me and examine the blueprints.”
“Hey, hey!” Reed interrupted. “This is my soldier, go find your own!”
