Chapter 8 The Good Samaritan

Chapter 8

The Good Samaritan

Theta and Alysia were now in the middle of this city’s underbelly. As Theta walked he saw more and more crime and poverty. It looked like the part of a city where those who preferred crime to order originated. It also seemed to be where those who could not live either in wealthier portions of the city or couldn’t leave it ended up.

It was taking them longer than expected because security points were appearing where they weren’t supposed to be. As according to Alysia’s calculations.

They kept walking kept walking. Alysia left his shoulder, still cloaked, and was watching him from above and looking for open points in the roads.

After a couple minutes Alysia brought him some troubling news. “Those guys who were following us earlier are back.”

“The ones from the subway?” He asked.

“The same, but there are more. They are moving in on us.” She said.

“How far are we from the platform?” Theta asked.

“Too far to make it before being intercepted. We will have to take cover. Up ahead, at the corner is a diner.” Alysia directed.

Theta didn’t respond, but he did lower his head and began walking faster.

The shelter was a squat, concrete building with a parking lot next to it. It was empty of cars and was probably more to just be there than have an actual purpose. The entrance was a door with a small circular window. Theta slowed as he approached and removed his helmet as he entered.

  The interior was nothing special. There were booth seats arranged along the walls. And there was a counter with stools and behind the counter was a small window that a kitchen could be seen through it. There were about ten people arranged in certain areas of the room. As he entered he could feel all eyes turn to him. Theta took a seat on a stool by the counter.

A man asked him, “Pardon me, but why do you have that suit in this part of the city?”

“I have to run an errand to the Launcher for my boss.” Theta said. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth.

“Well good luck. Its closed for the day and no one goes in ‘til tomorrow.” The same man said.

“But there were pods leaving it earlier.” Theta said hoping the man was wrong.

“It happened not long ago. A general alert went out about a security threat.” He said turning his attention back to his food.

Theta began thinking. He couldn’t stay here for long. They would wonder why he didn’t just go back to his job and return a strange suit, go home, or order some food.

He donned his helmet as he stood to leave.

He left the building and began walking down the street. The man with the clipboard barley looked up when he left. Probably just happy that he was leaving.

“Well what are we supposed to do now?” Theta said quietly asking Alysia.

“We can just wait it out. We just have to watch out for those guys who were following us, but other than that we should be fine.” She said through his helmets speakers.

Theta had walked two blocks and had rounded a corner when he heard a sound that stopped him in his tracks.

Gunshots.

Theta stopped. Then said in a calm voice, “Get ready.”

And with that he turned and sprinted back towards the diner. It took him a matter of seconds to arrive there. He stopped when he arrived. Bullet holes marked the entrance to the building and the windows were cracked. He saw the soldiers in armor standing in the parking lot surrounding the people who had been within. The entire group had been packed closely together and were on their knees with their hands behind their heads. One of the soldiers was holding his fingers to his ear and was speaking.

Then suddenly a man in red and black robes appeared out of thin air with a poof of black smoke. He seemed to be holding something in his hand. He looked at the people who had been captured and waved a hand dismissively. The soldiers began to line up and raised their weapons.

“Alysia kill the soldiers leave me the other one.” Theta said as he began to walk towards the group.

Alysia quickly left his shoulder.

The man in robes yelled at the group of people.

He said, “For aiding and abetting a man suspected of treason and consorting with the nonconformist group, the Paladins, and it has been deemed by our Supreme Directional Drogan you are to be executed for your crimes. What do you say in your defense?”

Before they could speak all of the soldiers fell to the ground and they all began to clutch at their necks. Blood escaping between their hands.

Theta was about ten feet from the man in the robes. The man was looking at the men on the ground and his face was away from Theta.

Theta called out and said, “You sir are going to die for threatening these people. Do YOU say anything in your defense?”

The man said nothing but instead disappeared in another plume of smoke.

Theta looked to the group and yelled, “Go, now!”

A second later, there was a sound of rushing air behind Theta. He turned around and the robed man and the man was wearing a mask. A blank mask that had no features other than a ridge down the middle of it. The man punched Theta square in the chest and he slid back a good five feet. This man was unnaturally strong.

Theta looked up at the man. He brought up his left hand and held it out. In his hand was what looked like a segment of black pole. Then it extended suddenly in both directions and a curved blade sprouted from the top. The man grabbed it with two hands. Instead of a stick he now held a scythe taller than the man.

“Prepare to face the wrath of the Infernum Bellatoras .” The man said in dark voice.

Theta raised his own arms and his blades came forth.

The man jumped and tried to bring his scythe down on Theta. Theta dodged to the right and slashed to the left. His enemy however brought the end of his scythe up and caused the attack to sail over the man’s head. The man pushed Theta back by slamming the shaft into his chest. Again Theta was forced back several feet. The man sprinted straight at Theta and he was preparing slice clean through Theta’s middle. Theta waited till the last second and then he jumped.

The man stumbled to a stop beneath him and looked up. Theta brought his foot down as hard as he could on the man’s chest. The man crashed to the ground and Theta kept a foot on his chest as he raised his blades.

“Surrender.” Theta ordered.

The man cocked his head and disappeared in a plume of smoke.

Theta stepped back, slightly startled. He began to turn slowly searching for the man.

“Alysia where is he?” Theta said still searching

“I don’t know he just disappeared. I am scanning for him.” She said.

Theta heard the rushing sound again. He waited for just the right moment and then he spun around and stabbed.

There was a sound of cracking metal and of a blade sliding between flesh.

The man had tried to sneak up behind him again.

The man however seemed unaffected by the event for he punched Theta in the face. Again causing Theta to stumble backwards. His head hurt from the impact

This angered Theta because not only didn’t his attack kill the man it didn’t even seem to slow him down.

Theta yelled as he rushed the man. Theta began to rain blow after blow on the man but each attack was blocked. Theta sliced upwards with one of his swords but was blocked by the man’s scythe. He did a slight twist with the blade and drove the other end into Theta’s chest flipping him over onto his back. The man swung the blade at Theta’s head, but Theta crossed his blades, effectively blocking the weapons descent.

Theta held it for a moment contemplating his next action. Then he heard a screeching noise. Both he and the man looked up and at blink speed Alysia drew her claws across the man’s face. He brought his left hand to his face protecting it. Theta quickly got to his feet and cut the man’s wrist on his other hand. Causing him to drop his weapon. And before he could leave again Theta stabbed the man upwards under the man’s ribs. He brought in one shallow breath and then his head slumped forward.

Theta retracted his blades and the body fell to the ground.

Alysia landed on his shoulders. The two looked at each other and Theta began to search for a place to hide out for the rest of the day.

“Well so much for easy.” Alysia said.

“Who said this was going to be easy.” Theta said jokingly.

Chapter 7 Getting a Ride

Chapter 7

Getting a Ride

As soon as the doors opened Theta got up and walked out briskly. He kept his head low as he entered the station. Which largely resembled the one he had just come from and had many people brushing past him to enter the train. He began to walk towards the exit hoping they would slow the soldiers if they were following him.

Theta climbed the stairs and arrived. He looked around at his surroundings. Large amounts of people walked to and fro. The area he was in did not resemble what he had seen from the outside.

Theta could hear metal boots. Why were they coming after him? He had just got here.

“Alysia?!” Theta said with urgency.

“Coffee shop. To your left.” She said quietly.

Theta looked and saw it. The coffee shop was just behind the stairs leading out of the subway. It had a wood and glass door and two glass windows with patrons talking and drinking at tables. It was a part of a wall of assorted stores and offices. Resembling any other city Theta could imagine.

Theta quickly ran in and shut the door behind him. He stepped to the right. With his back to the wall he peaked through the door’s glass.

He saw the soldiers run in the opposite direction.

Theta hung his head and let out a breath.

“Wow that was clo-,” Theta couldn’t finish because when he looked back up everyone in the café had stopped and were watching him inquisitively.

“I… Uh…. Really need some coffee. I was really close to…Um…. Yeah.” Theta stammered as he walked to a nearby empty table and lowered his head. He sat down and grabbed a menu that was resting on it. He raised it up and covered his face.

Everyone restarted their conversations.

A waitress walked over to Theta with a little flipbook in hand.

“Can I help you?” She asked with a smile.

“Uh. What do you suggest?” Theta said not lowering the menu.

“I suggest the caramel, double shot, mocha, frappe, with crème and sugar.” She said.

Theta paused for a moment and suppressed the urge to look and see if she was serious.

So he just said, “Yeah I’ll take that.”

“Alright.” She said but she didn’t move.

Theta waited a moment and asked, “Yes?”

“I need the menu.” She said.

Theta dropped his head to the table and handed her the menu.

“Thank you sir. Oh and P.S. it is alright if people see the helmet. They won’t judge you.”

Theta lifted his head and cocked it.

“Everyone understands that you guys who work in the mills only have short breaks. So it is understandable to leave the suit on.” She said.

“Oh yeah. That’s why I was acting all weird. I am new so I was a little worried if people would think I’m lazy or crazy.” Theta lied.

“Its fine I will be here in a moment with your coffee.” She said and turned around.

Theta let down his hood and set the helmet on the back of his chair. He brought his hood back up. He didn’t want to be in pictures or let people see his face.

He felt Alysia’s weight leave his shoulder and saw the chair across from him shift a little.

“Taking a seat eh?” Theta said, smiling.

“Shush I can’t talk and you will stand out speaking to thin air.” Alysia said quietly.

Theta nodded.

A minute later Theta’s coffee arrived. He gave the girl the card with his money. He found out they were called E-Cards.

Theta picked up the plastic cup and took a sip. It took a large amount of will power not to spit it out instantly. It somehow mixed sickeningly sweet with extremely bitter.

Theta tried one more sip before dumping the rest into a nearby potted plant.

He left the cup and put his helmet back on. He got up and started to walk away. As he neared the door he felt Alysia land on his shoulder.

As he stepped out the door he looked up. He saw the station in the sky that would send him to his destination. He couldn’t see the tube that led up to it. He raised his hood as he began to walk.

“Alysia where is the way to the station up there?” Theta said, making sure his voice didn’t leave the suit.

“It is ten blocks away. We can walk or use the public transportation system.” Alysia advised.

“Let’s try the cab.” Theta said.

“I will leave it to you.” Alysia said to him.

With that Theta walked to the curb of the road near the entrance to the subway.

He raised his arm out when he saw a yellow car. However the vehicle just drove by.

“Maybe he didn’t see you.” Alysia said.

The cars driving by actually had no tires. They seemed to hover just above the ground.

Theta raised his arm again and held it there.

Maybe he hadn’t given the cab driver enough time, Theta thought.

Two more cabs drove by.

Theta tried waving his arms. The cabs still drove by.

“I guess we are walking.” Theta said with annoyance.

Theta began walking to the street that would lead him to the platform. When he rounded the corner however he saw a security checkpoint. It was heavily manned and each person entering had to be searched. The men manning it looked largely similar to the ones in the subway.

“Alysia. How are we supposed to get through that?” Theta said, gesturing to it.

“Hm. That wasn’t on the specs. It must change. Random security points maybe. Ask someone where one more checkpoint is.” Alysia ordered.

So theta walked across the street and found a man who seemed educated and semi-important.

“Hey pal. You wouldn’t happen to know where another security checkpoint is. I know that one down there, but do you know where another one is?” Theta asked.

The guy looked at him and said, “Yes on the intersection of Kilimanjaro Street and Kilpatrick Avenue.”

“Thanks.” Theta said as he walked away.

Then to Alysia he said, “Ok you have a smart plan don’t you.”

“Yes.”

Theta could detect the smirk in her voice.

“Ok I give what was the point?” Theta said as he stopped near a light post.

“Well I looked at the map of the city and found the locations of those two security points. Then I found past security point randomization charts, very difficult mind you. Then looking at the two points we obtain-,”

Theta interrupted and said, “Ok I get it. Sorry but we need to get out of here. You know stopping the unleashing of a general of hell is kind of a big deal. I do acknowledge your smartness.”

“Hmph. Fine, this is the best way to go.” She said. 

Theta began walking.

As he followed the path the area around him began to get worse and worse in appearance.