Sarah7

Ch 21

“Are you sure this is an appropriate course of action, Sarah?” Max said as he ran alongside her and the rest of the party of men and women. They were all galloping along a dusty path that may once had been a road on horses that were only just starting to get used to the idea that the large metal creature beside them was not going to harm them.

Sarah was beginning to have her own doubts. Apparently, whatever conditioning she had ingrained did not include horseback riding as she was slowly being jarred to a pulp by the galloping horse.

After the tense confrontation that night, Sarah was surprised at how this group of very rough-looking warriors treated her. Hale, their leader had come up to Sarah and bowed, almost as if she were some kind of important person, and Sarah suspected that they knew more about her than she had revealed.

Hale had introduced everyone in his party of scavengers, as he described themselves but Sarah only could remember Leaf and Twig - twin brother and sister who seemed barely older than Sarah herself. They had travelled from the ruined city of Chicago, seeking out new resources and potential partnerships.

When Sarah asked why they all carried weapons, Hale explained about the wildlife, with creatures such as giant wolves and wargs, and other creatures that the Vixen had brought along with them from their own planet. Creatures like the Skex, which looked like a cross between a rhino and a giant roach.

Hale had gestured to his eyepatch, and indicated he’d lost it in an encounter with a juvenile Skex. If it had been fully grown, he would not be there now, he explained.

“Sarah, you and your friend Max are exactly what we have been looking for. The only way we can survive any longer is to work together, and we can help you as well. Your mech is a walking target. The Vixen have banned all technology. If they catch wind of him , they will come in huge numbers, and destroy him.”

Sarah had flinched at his words. She had heard the same from Creed and the villagers. She felt she had no choice. She was lost, exposed, and hungry. She could at least travel with them until she thought of something better to do. Whatever that would be. She pushed those thoughts down and tried to find some comfort in knowing she was at least doing something now. If there was even a hope that they could help protect Max she was willing to take the risk.

Leaf and Twig were both tall, thin, and graceful. They eschewed the heavy swords of their compatriots and carried bows made of some metal composite who’s original purpose was lost in time.

The first night together had been awkward, with Sarah sitting away from the scavenger party, under Max’s legs and stony gaze. It was Leaf and Twig who had broken the silence and came to sit with Sarah.

“Hi. I’m Leaf, and this is Twig, my twin sister.” The young man volunteered, nervously. The woman smiled and nodded to Sarah as she placed her bow across her knees.

“I’m Sarah, and this is Max, my friend.” Sarah said tiredly.

“You have interesting friends. Sarah” Twig answered. “How did you come across each other?”

“Sarah rescued me.” Max intoned.

“And Max rescued me.” Sarah replied with a smile.

Leaf handed Sarah a blanket and some food that Hale asked him to bring. Sarah devoured the food in moments, then blushed as she realized she had not even asked if it was to be shared.

“It’s ok, we normally eat before midnight anyway” Twig said, smiling sardonically.

After that first night, Sarah and Max travelled with Hale and the rest. Hale said that they would return immediately to old Chicago, to make it harder for the Vixen to find Max, and because he wanted Sarah to come meet their Leader. He seemed to believe that not only was it very important that Sarah come with them, but that Sarah would be very interested in meeting their Leader as well.

However now, as they neared the outskirts of the ruined city she was beginning to have her doubts once again. The dusty paths had slowly formed into ruined roads full of cracks and dangerous gaps. The road became not a path but an artifact they followed along side. A ruined and imperfect guide to a grey and broken monument to man’s former glory.

Sarah saw the twisted and damaged buildings long before they neared the city limits. The sky was grey and overcast as they neared the farthest outpost. Hale waved at the somewhat skinny and awkward looking sentrys as they passed, and more than a few pointed and spoke excitedly when they saw Max. Their eyes grew even wider when they saw Sarah, and more than a few times she saw Hale making a shushing gesture to passersby when they cast him questioning looks.

More and more people were travelling along the ruined roadside, reminding Sarah of the trade routes the small village had established. She saw that despite being thoroughly defeated by an invasion force that now only saw humans as a minor nuisance, humanity was continuing to persevere.

Strangely, that lifted some of the heaviness of her mood. She realized that it had been almost 5 days since she had fled the village. She hoped that Amil and Creed were ok. She felt guilty for having left without saying goodbye, but she also pushed down thoughts of what might have happened to them, because of her.

The degree of devastation hit her like a hammer when she came around the final curve before the city limits. Tall buildings had been tossed like children’s toys, or gutted by decades long cooled fires and explosions. She could almost hear the sounds of metal towers bursting into flames and the cries of thousands of people fleeing destruction with desperate fear.

The sun was setting in the west and it’s golden rays found a gap into the clouds and cast a reddish hue over the city ruins, further adding to the illusion of the devastation of the past echoing into the present. The sun glinted off of Max’s shiny armor as he came to a stop beside Sarah.

Sarah looked over at the mech and tried to convince herself that the tears running down her face were just the result of the sunlight in her eyes, and not memories welling up from the little girl who’s memories she shared.

Hale watched both girl and mech carefully. He had his own twinge of doubt about what he was about to do, but then he reminded himself that survival meant doing things you weren’t necessarily proud of.

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