Life After the Cataclysm - Chapter 1

Zack helps her into the room sitting her down next to the food he frowns at the ankle wound opening a bar of candy he hands it to her “bite down is my advice.”

He pulled the medical kit apart with swabs and other medical needs he began to get to work he hated it hearing the muffled screams as he peeled already infected skin off and dosing the rest with antibiotics he it used to be one of his morals to never hurt a girl but here he was inflicting large amounts of pain upon her.

He finished up on the leg wound bandaging it neatly he then calmly looked to her arm swabbing it down then adding another tied bandage he gave a slight smile as he sat back slowly “We both look tired maybe we should sleep?”. Laying his coat out onto the floor clearly indicating she could have the bed. He got up locked the room up to protect them looking into his pocket he drew a large container of pills taking 5 in his hand he was about to close it then thought of sharing.

“Dreamless sleep?” shaking the tub lightly he began to read the side though. “Bit of a personal question, how old are you?” Reading the side of a large pill tub reading the label for dosage limits.

Zack showed no emotions about her being 22 but his head was a buzz as he stooped to pick his coat off the floor he hung it on the headboard. Moving his sword closer to the bed he took the pills in his hand gulping them down without water he sat down on the bed.

Zack had been watching her back the rise and fall of her shoulders he could not sleep he sat up against the wall staring ahead he drew the old photo from his pocket a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He looked at it knowing full well what he looked upon he stared at the picture in wonder he finally put it away after a good duration in the night he lay down on his back looking at the roof he suddenly heard Sin scuffling around he sat up looking at her seeing her face in the moonlight.

~So beautiful he thought~ He pushed these thoughts back into a deep recess in his mind. “Is everything ok Sin?” showing some worry he had surprised himself for actually showing worry for a person he had just me or was it. He frowned at his own train of thought wondering if something was hidden in his past that the priests had not told him.

He rolls off the bed he slowly stood his arms outstretched his silver eyes seemed to glow as hers went golden he felt a twitch in his shoulder blades but he continued to stand open arms “The guards?” There are no guards here!” Zack keeping eye contact with Sin slowly came closer “Come on Sin me and you are friends.” Hoping to trigger her out of her dreamlike state he decided on another approach.

“It’s Zack we were at the motel we had a quarrel we just sorted out our wounds then we went to sleep remember.” Zack was within range of the machete he continued calling her name saying it slowly once he got close he put a hand over her machete hand the over wrapping round her he rested his cheek upon the top of her head “It’s just a nightmare we all get them, just take a deep breath and step away from it all.”

Zack gives a small frown “Well memories are difficult to deal with compared to dreams.” Looking down to her listening to all she explains about her entire fiasco of a problem. Zack lifts his hand itching the back of his head “well you have a name, locations tie you down so your free and your yourself you don’t need to be fully human just live as who you are!” He takes deliberation over how he could explain the next part on why people would want a killing machine he decided he would avoid that question as it was a sensitive area to talk over.

He took her to the bed laying her down He pulled a smaller tub of pills “These are painkillers for the headaches.” throwing them on the bed next to her. “I’m gonna go look for some clothes for you maybe some other bits and pieces will you be all right on your own for an hour.” Standing up he walked to the door without his coat or sword frowning at the many locks on the door ‘security extreme’. Turning back round he gave a friendly smile to Sin.

Basic instinct tells the lion-man not to approach the settlement and so Stasinus, decides to remain aloof. The ruins of the city are vast, and there may yet be other encampments and towns that might accept his kind. Powerful as he is, against so many the fight would be short and dares not enter any place unknown to him that lacks the scent of his kind. Heading north, the giant animal mutant vanishes into the night.



Through a small window a pair of unnaturally blue eyes curiously watched the two newcomers. They had been observing them since their arrival, but never looked long enough to trigger that 'sixth sense' that most denied to be true. Returning his eyes to the sink, the dishwasher continued to scrub a dirty pot in brownish coloured water.

He was a large man, heavily muscled with white hair. One might judge him to be around thirty years of age, but his perfect unblemished face made if difficult to determine. In fact at times his pale skin didn't seem real and despite the heat in the kitchen the man hardly sweat but his employer, however, couldn't be bothered to take notice of such things.

"Pheyd!" Called a small asian man known as Lu. "Clean-up at table 6 and remember to bring any tips to me."

One day of washing dishes for the anal restaurateur had felt like a week, but the job gave him food and place to sleep. Pheyd didn't have anything to trade, and what he had he wasn't about to part with so the dishwasher job was necessary for the time being.

Pheyd had quickly learned that his employer only cared about two things — 'Noodles and money' — and so he couldn't be bothered to take any notice whether his dish washer's eyes were too blue or his skin, at times, didn't appear to be natural. He had arrived at night and so the guards not being able to get a good look at his eyes had passed him through after he satisfied their questions. Since then, he kept his eyes low and stayed in the kitchen awaiting the arrival of someone who might be able to answer his own questions.

"Yes, Mr. Lu." Pheyd responded and exited the kitchen just as Bonnie had caught sight of the small window that she got a 'feeling' from. He had received that same feeling from she and her partner and knew they were hunters when he saw them. They moved differently than the others and their eyes just didn't 'look' at the world around them, they 'saw' it. What they hunted he did not know, but he felt as if they may have the answers he sought. Keeping his head low, and eyes to the floor, Pheyd wearing a filthy old apron walked into the crowded noodle house and began to clear the table.

Zack had been walking along when he felt an itch at the back of his skull turning round he wondered what could be wrong then a strong pang in his gut “SIN!” He felt something was wrong as he was running forward he heard a yell for his name then the click of something. Coming to a stop with as little noise as a dormouse would make. Zack gave a glance down the stairs seeing a ‘bear’ no he shook his head more hybrids this never went well he slowly crawled across into a corridor looking around he found a good sized stone. Hoping Carl would fall for the classic trick he threw it on the right stair case bouncing it so it sounded as if he had ran away into the building.

He listened to Carl’s footsteps as they approached the stairs slowly he went into a room next to the steps hearing Carl get closer and closer then stopping at the top. They waited Zack knew the longer he waited the worse it was for Sin he had to act. Grabbing a chair he took a deep breath he ran out Carl was quick ‘animal’ quick he dodged the thrown chair by Zack who dived at Carl both being bombarded down the stairs Zack winced as they both went tumbling down it all went black for a moment, Death?

Zack suddenly came to he could feel the burning of the moonlight through a window indeed he had died down the stairs they had been dangerous Carl lay in heap of broken bones as Zack should have been as well. Standing on one good leg which had escaped the pounding he hopped to the room picking up his inventory of items he couldn’t help but cough as he walked blood falling from his mouth dark black clotted blood walking back through the lobby he reached the door with a wince. He rounded the corner the thought of saving his si…. friend.

“Oi dickless bear I see you having troubles” holding the sword his eyes dull his arms like lead he stood before the bear he gave a shiver as he looked upon the beast his coat flapping around him he knew he should have stealth killed it but pride had overtaken him….again! The beast had Sin on a collar in the centre of the room.

Zack slowly walked in assessing the situation it was dire he felt disgusted at what he saw coughing slightly his silver eyes looking up at this bear-human…..Hybrid the word slipping into his mind then it was butted out “A coward!” His train of thought had been thought aloud as he looked upon the bear his statue changing slowly becoming calmer and straighter became less of the mess he had been, still he could feel bones grinding from his fall. He watched him snap his whip seeing Sintara flinch from the blows he felt it in the base of his skull a slight throbbing pain flashes before his eyes.

“Hell I’ll take her from you and rip you to shreds in the process.” He hears a small voice egging him on in the back of his head he felt the pain increase in the back of his skull suddenly it stopped calm and serene. He removed his gloves from his hands throwing them to the floor. “I’ll kill her reeeeaaal slow." Zack’s eyes finally focus on the Hybrid illuminating a sharp silver becoming bright his mouth stretching back in anger his hands clasping around the claymore he charges swinging the blade with full ferocity enough to cut any man in half his veins in his neck bulging his canines grow to overlap his lower lip “It will be you to die this day.” His laugh almost hysterical as he swung the two handed blade.

Zack licked the blood from his blade laughing ever so slightly when suddenly his eyes dimmed his canines retracting he fell to his knee shivering then with a retch he vomited up the blood he had just licked. “Jesus that’s horrible.” He sits shaking and shivering wreck blood had covered. The hybrid’s legs were still pumping blood across the floor he slowly stood in the mess swiping the sword in a circle the blood flicking off onto a wall he sheathed it in his back sheath he limped over to Sin. Scratching at the corners of one of the claw scars on his face he slowly began to untie the rope falling to the ground he reached up to undo the collar his finger shook before him as he undid it.

“We are safe for now.” He felt unsteady on his feet feeling almost light headed as he looked at the scene he had committed.

Zack lays on the bed of room 12 he lays their thinking upon his wounds wondering what she could possibly do for shattered shins and grinded knee joints but now was not the time to be cocky instead a friendly manner should be taken “Sin nothing can help me at the moment all my injuries are internal I would help with yours but my hands.” He holds them in front of him shaking and twitching vigorously “Just an adrenaline rush that’s all.” Trying to convince himself more than Sin about his situation looking to her he realises the amount of shock she is in.

Zack reaches across onto the side table picking a candy bar. “Eat it will make you feel better and you should really lock the door behind you.” Handing her the candy bar as he could not think of many ways for her to be preoccupied he could feel the shards of bone moving to heal in his flesh glancing at the moon through the window. “How long of night time do you think we have?” Asking Sin the question.

Zack listened with a sympathetic ear to her rambling understanding her situation he let her go he felt his leg finish healing he knew an hour wouldn’t be enough he would still have 2 broken ribs and maybe problems with his right elbow but he just considered these watching her sit at the foot of the bed he moved himself off the bed pushing himself off one arm limp by his side he went past Sin looking at the en-suite it had a shower installed turning the shower taps he found to his pleasure it worked.

Walking back out using his only hand he hugged Sin “I’m not sure how hot the water is but I think you should take a shower to cool the nerves and to wash off all this blood. I found a set of clothes for you before we got caught and make sure you lock the bathroom when you go.” Giving a smile he walked to the door unlocking it and quickly leaving he gave a light jog his footsteps could be heard on the floor above as he went to collect the clothes he had found earlier.

As Pheyd placed the bowls and cups into his plastic bin, he listened to the conversations of the patrons, searching for any information of the surrounding area or the mention of a laboratory or research facility. One man mentioned that the 'crats' were getting worse in the northern ruins and described how they surrounded and killed one his dogs. Phaeyt was astounded by how quickly the mutations had occurred during the centuries that he was traveling through space and from what he could tell they had been accelerated by radiation and experimentation. Another man in a far corner cursed the existence of some creatures called, 'hybrids' which Pheyd understood were genetically designed combinations of man and animal.

The presence of genetically engineered monstrosities sounded promising and Pheyd considered that if they existed then perhaps the labs that created him were still operational as well. Many centuries had passed, however, since he had set foot on this planet and much had changed. The powerful corporation, 'BIOGENEX' no longer existed, in fact nothing that he remembered remained. In his absence the world had been transformed into a shadowy reflection of what once was and he struggled to see a place for a Synthecan in it.

The only thing fortunate about the collapse of society was that no one seemed to remember Synthecans. Not many of his kind were made, as the process required the collaborative efforts of several geneticists and bio-mechanical engineers to produce just one. Even if any had remained on the planet, he figured that as durable as they were, even Synthecans would, after centuries succumb to the harsh environment. He considered that others could have been made but if Perdition was an example of the technology and resources that the world had to offer it would be impossible to manufacture a clone and the necessary bio-mechanical parts to create a Synthecan. All of his theories were of course based on speculation and he would only know for certain if he was able to locate the other labs. He had found the first facility to the East of Denver, where his escape-pod had landed but there were very little remnants of it, but he recalled that there had been other BIOGENEX laboratories further west. That was what he was after.

Pheyd's attention had been caught by the call of a rather slovenly man. "Hey. You know you're kind of odd looking.", he stated as he focused his one good eye on the tall, pale skinned man.

Pheyd keeping his head low, twisted his face toward the customer and gazed at him over his shoulder. A slight smile curled one side of his dark lips as he considered the many responses he could have made, but the insignificant slob was not worth the breath. Instead he merely quoted a few lines from an ancient poem by Dickenson, "Winds of summer fields, Recollect the way,-- Instinct picking up the key, Dropped by memory."

The man screwed his face at the strange words uttered by the 'bus-boy' and not really knowing how to respond simply went back to eating and ignored the strange white haired man. Pheyd turned away and went about his business, the situation successfully diffused, he wove his way through the maze of tables.

Zack found the clothes throwing them over his limp arms shoulder. He winced as he had to bend down a broken rib moving ever so slightly standing straight he began to walk back he stopped at Carl’s body. “Rest in peace old friend.” Closing the shocked eyes he knew why he had overcome the poor guy he had recognized him from before he had left the ‘facility’.

Zack walked to the room he saw the bathroom door open and with Sin on the floor screaming. Zack moved forward quickly he dumped the clothes onto the bed then getting to Sin’s side ignoring the pain in his ribs he crouched down next to her looking into her eyes the change in them at seeing him he knew she was thinking of leaving he gave a sigh. “It would be the clever option Sintara.” Using her full name for once he sat down cross legged. “I could betray you more than you know it I never explained what I was before the church.” Zack rooted into his Jacket pulling the ever typical photo this time he gave the photo to her.

It was something unexpected a picture of maybe 10-13 men all rowed up in front of a building Zack stood up as Sin looked over the picture more carefully. None of the men smiled they were all dressed casually. She recognized almost all of the men within it even the single women it was the facility guards and slaves to the doctor the women being the one she had just thought about with Zack in the centre staring at the camera with the claymore at his back.

"I'm sorry I should leave before I anger you or cause you to attack." With that finished he turned round asking himself *can sins ever be forgiven or are you doomed to eternal damnation*

(I will leaves the clothes to your decision)

“I know you weren’t leaving cause of that I am trying to give you more reason to hate me to leave also if im caught by the doctor in any time I would be killed for what I did to him. I have already died I fell down the stairs with Carl I was in the exact same situation if you mind to take a peak and see his broken limbs.” Taking a deep breath he gave a wry smile getting ready to explain.

“I’ll explain simply I was the head of all of them I was the doctors second hand man when you go into your memory look beyond him leaning against a wall that was where I usually was I am ashamed for not intervening.” He stood stock still as he stared into her eyes.