Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Wastes ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Xavier nodded slowly. "Unfortunately, out of all your unique skills and abilities, Doc was the only one I trusted as a medical adviser. Without him we are at a disadvantage."

Hailey fisted her small hands on Boris's shoulder. "Nanny Doc taught me everything about medicine and the human body...I will do my best to make him proud and help you Mr. Xavier."

Xavier smiled at this. "You are a brave girl, Hailey. Doc would be proud of you."

She smiled. "I want my own room." She then hopped off Boris's shoulder and landed on her feet. "Or I can share one with Teddy!"

"Well, I'm afraid you won't be staying here long enough to get comfortable. In two days you will be setting off at the vault. I would suggest that you learn about each other's strengths and weaknesses during that time. It could be the difference between life and death."

Hailey pouted. Evana got up and stretched. "Well, I suppose we can all get some sleep tonight and tomorrow figure each other out."

"As you wish. You have free run of my facility just please be careful around the computers. You'll find rooms down stairs. Feel free to sleep wherever you please."

Lana watched as they all moved down stairs. Maverick was the first to move. It was obvious he was ready to but Angelia down for the night. Behind him was Evana yawning and dragging her bag. Hailey wouldn't let go of Boris. She held his hand as she walked fastly, trying to keep up with his large steps. Sarah went down with Sven behind her as he puffed on yet another cigarette. Lana glanced at Maven who seemed to be just as apprehensive as her. She didn't want to be the last one standing there. She was already the odd man out in her life. She didn't want to start out like that if she did decide to stay. Slowly, and hesitantly, she started down the stairs.

Maven watched as that one girl, what was her name again? Lana. He whispered something sweet to Zenith and went to open up the door. She took off into the air. She preferred the night air to being cooped up inside. He couldn't blame her, but for now he thought it best if he got to know his peers. They all seemed rather rambunctious and shady, though there were a few like the big guy and the guy with the kid who seemed driven by other means. Just what were everyone's motivations for coming so far?

In the morning everyone ate breakfast in silence then went outside to show off what they knew. Evana had her strength. She stood next to Boris and fist fought with him just for the hell of it. Maverick was quick, very quick. If you blinked, you would miss him. Lana had her strength though she wasn't as strong as Boris or Evana. And she was fast, but not as fast as Maverick. About the only thing she was different at was that she could see further than anyone. While Sarah looked in her snipping scope, Lana only had to turn her head to see what Sarah saw in the scope miles away. That gave Maverick the idea to push her towards Sven since he was so good with guns. Maybe he could teach Lana a thing or two about guns and she could learn to put her sight to good use.

Of course Lana just stood and watched Sven show off. She didn't want to impose.

Hailey, on the other hand, ran around chasing bugs.

Maven watched in silence while the others demonstrated their abilities. They were all very skilled, and he couldn't help but to wonder how he could help in all of this. He wasn't strong, or fast, or good with guns. His ability was...different. He stroked Zenith's plumage, whispering words to her while she stared at him, as if she was able to understand what he was saying.

"Hey, girlie," Sven flicked his cigarette down and kicked open his briefcase revealing several guns. "Take your pick."

"Oh...I...don't play with guns..." Lana said softly.

"Guns kill people!" Hailey laughed as she danced after a beetle.

Sven smirked. "That's the point." He picked up a small gun, twirling it in his fingers before handing it to Lana for her to take it. "If you want to get anywhere, you gotta learn to kill or be killed."

She paled as she looked at the gun in her palms. "Just...point and shoot?" she asked. When he nodded, she turned to the area Sarah was shooting at with her sniper rifle. Lana held the gun up then fired.

Sarah ducked as the bullet flew past and embedded into the wall beside her. "What the hell!? You gave her a loaded gun!? Are you trying to get us killed?"

Sven groaned and took her hands and moved them to where they were suppose to be. "Try focusing and keeping a firm grip on the gun otherwise the kick back will mostly knock you off your feet."

"I'm sorry!" Lana said quickly. She could tell that there was no way this man was going to leave her alone until she shot something worthy. Looking off in the distance, she saw a can sitting on a fence. It was too far for them to all see, but perfect for her. Holding the gun out, she fired. The can knocked over. Slowly she handed the gun back to him. "Thank you for the lesson. I shall not forget it."

Sarah huffed and looked down her scope to see what she shot. "Well I'll be damned...."

Sven shook his head and pushed the gun back into her hand. "Keep it. You're gonna need it if we come across any Raiders." Reaching into his suitcase he pulled out a thigh holster for her. "I'll just take the cost of those out of your share of the loot."

She looked at the holster. "Um...what is this?"

He couldn't believe it. This was what he had to work with. Kneeling down, he slid his hands high up on her thighs as he took the holster and fitted it onto her. He then put the gun in the holster. "There you go."

Lana blushed and pulled at her skirt. "Oh! I...um...thank you," she said quickly and stepped away. How embarrassing. He must think she is such a child. Next to Hailey, she was the youngest one there.

He just nodded as if it was nothing, completely oblivious to her embarrassment. "It will take some getting use to. Might want to use some lotion between your legs or the strap will chafe them."

She blushed brighter and turned her back to him. "Yes, of course!" she said and hurried away.

Off in the distance, a young girl held out her arm as hawk landed on her. "Hello, Zenith. It's so very nice to meet you too. Might you show me the way?" She pressed her head to her with a soft smile as it cried out then took off. She followed behind it as it swirled around her showing her the way to the manor.

The first sound that he'd made all day was the slight whistling sound to call Zenith. She'd taken off in such a hurry that he thought something might be wrong. Extending his hand outward, the bird landed and began to nuzzled his cheek. "Where'd you go girl?"

Skyla walked not far behind. She went straight for Zenith. "Thank you so much, Zenith. I'm indebted to you dear friend," she said as she stroked her head. Flashing a smile to Maven she went on and looked at Xavier. "Thank you for the invitation, Xavier. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Maven's jaw dropped and he looked back at her. How did she know Zenith's name? And Zenith didn't even pull from her touch. Who was this girl?

Xavier just nodded. "I am glad that you could join us Skyla. I was afraid that you might not wish to leave your forest."

"It's because of the forest that I had to leave. It insisted that I use my talents to help restore what our kind destroyed." Pulling out a little cookie from her pocket she held out her hand and Zenith happily took it. She looked at Maven. "Don't worry, Maven. It's all nature. I don't eat meat," she promised. There was a soft tug at her dress and she looked down. "Hello, Hailey. Cookie?" Hailey held out her hand and Skyla gave her one.

"You know my name! How do you know my name?" she asked as she munched.

"Zenith told me. I know all your names. And your talents. I also know that it's imperative that we start our journey as soon as we can." She turned to Maven again. "I almost brought a friend or two with me as well...but the journey will be hard and I don't want to risk their lives. But Zenith has assured me that you will keep her safe, no?"

Maven ran a hand through his hair. "You can...speak to Zenith? I mean, really speak to her?" Okay. Maybe he wasn't so special after all. "Zenith has been with me for years. I wouldn't let anything happen to her."

She smiled. "That is wonderful to know. She's very fond of you."

"You know of us, but we know nothing of you," Maverick said as he shook Skyla's hand with a smile.

"What is it that you wish to know?"

"You speak to birds. That's not very talented," Evana shrugged.

"I speak to all animals. And with nature. I also see a little into the future, though I have yet to master it," she said as she handed Zenith another cookie.

Evana moved forward. "You can see into the future?" she asked in shock.

"Only a little," she said smiling. She then blushed. "Oh my...Zenith is very forward...about your love like, Maven. You should speak to her about that," she laughed lightly.

Lana stood off to the side. She had something in common with Skyla. They both loved the forest. Maybe...this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Maven's cheeks turned red as he heard this. "W-what? What are you talking about?""It means the bird is territorial of you," Sven smirked. "If you really can see the future, I might take you to what's left of Vegas with me once we save the world."

"I don't leave my forest unless I must. Sorry but your Vegas is not on my list of things to do while I'm on this mission," she said. Leaning into Maven, "She thinks you and I will be a perfect match. She speaks of you settling down and having babies," she whispered. "She's a little forward don't you think?" She then left him to shake everyone's hand before going back to Xavier. "I see you have tea...might you share?"

Maven's jaw dropped. Out of all the things to get him in trouble, he would have never expected that it would be Zenith.

Xavier produced a cup of tea from seemingly nowhere. "But of course my dear."

She smiled and smelled it. "Mmm...jasmine, honey, and just a hint of nutmeg. Lovely," she said and started to sip on it as she looked at Lana. Lana shifted. "Please, sit beside me. We must converse. We have a lot in common." Lana moved slowly to her and said. Reaching in her bag she pulled out some nuts and handed them to Lana.

Lana smiled for the first time. "From your forest?"

"A gift. Let's be friends."

There was a loud cracking sound as Boris set down the large boulder that he and Evana had been tossing around. "I have never seen a forest before," he said as he he stretched, his bones cracking in the process.

"I...must admit that I too am sort of curious about the forest," Maven said softly.

"It's place where there's a bunch of green stuff. Big deal," Sarah muttered.

"There isn't much green left in the forest I'm from," Lana said as she shared the nuts with Hailey.

"I'm afraid it's like that everywhere. The world is losing it's life rather quickly. Trees have no water to grow and plants are very hard to find healthy. It results in a drastic change in human life as well. Babies die before birth, elderly men and woman die before they are seventy." Skyla set her tea down. "It is very fortunate that Angelia was born so healthy, Maverick."

Maverick looked up. "Yes...there was a lot of sacrificing for that to happen..."

"I know. My heart goes out to you, friend," she said softly. He gave her a smile.

Maven stroked Zenith who had her eyes closed and leaned into his touch. Had he seen a forest before? His mind conjured up images, but were they real or simply manifestations of his imagination?

"My little Sasha would have loved to have seen a forest," Boris said softly.

"I'm sure she would have. But you will see her again, Boris. Good people go to good places," Skyla assured him. Hailey rushed over to him and hugged his leg.

"We are so much alike! We have both lost someone we love very much, Teddy!"

Boris looked down at the small girl and laid a hand on her head. "Yes we have," he said with a smile. She was barely able to get her arms around his thick leg.

"Hailey, it's time for you to take your medicine," Xavier said suddenly as he checked the time. "Doc left me detailed instructions about how to take care of you; and I don't want his ghost haunting me"

She pouted. "Can I have juice and a cookie with it like he use to do?" she said as she teared up on Boris's leg.

Xavier's face softened as he nodded. "Of course you can." He offered her his hand. "Come on and we'll go get you it."

"Go on and take your medicine so you can get big and strong," Boris said as he rubbed her back.

She slowly pulled from Boris's leg and took Xavier's hand. Evana sat down. "We still don't know what the little girl does or what bird boy does."

"His name is Maven and I would watch your tone towards him about Zenith. She doesn't take kindly to rudeness towards her friend," Skyla said as she sipped on the tea.Evana rolled her eyes.

"I really don't do anything special," he said with a small shrug. He didn't take offense to her tone, but it seemed that Zenith did because she glared at Evana. "I'm not strong or fast, and I've never used a gun before."

"Then why are you here?" Evana asked.

Skyla smiled behind her tea.

He smiled and stroked Zenith's neck. "I guess because Xavier thought that it would be good for me. He said that if I came I might find out who I am." He knew that she was trying to goad him. She was a blunt and angry person, that much was obvious. He didn't really want to show them. Granted, his power probably wasn't as odd as seeing into the future...but he knew from experience that people didn't take too kindly to his...gift.

Skyla watched as Evana just groaned. She stood. "Your gift is amazing, Maven. Don't let anyone tell you differently," she said and walked inside. Lana rushed in after her.

"You can see into the past too can't you?" Lana asked as she caught up.

Skyla stopped and turned to her with a smile. "You are very perceptive."

"Some of the things you know...you can't just know from his bird..."

"You're right...though...it's not really the past I see it's just people. For instance, I can read Boris as if he were a book. I know his family, I know his past, I know his favorite color. But I don't know a thing about Evana." She smiled lightly. "The more open a person is, the more open to life and love, the easier it is for me to see them. The more closed off they are, the less I can see. Do you understand?" Lana nodded softly.

"Why didn't you tell the others?"

"Sometimes, people don't take kindly to others prying into their lives. It's an evasion of privacy. Even if I can't help it. Even if I can't control it...some people just don't understand," she said sadly.

"Can you...see me?" Skyla nodded. Lana smiled. "It makes making friends a little easier..."

Skyla smiled. "Come, I'll tell you of my forest."

"So, psycho chick...err, what is it...Evana? You seem to be the type to know what they want. How did Xavier get you to join this little escapade of his?" Sven was curious just what the others had been promised.

"I was bored. He promised me something worth while," she said with a shrug. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"Well is there anything that I can interest you in?"
Evana smirked. "Sex. And killing."

"You're my kind of girl. I can give you plenty of both."

Evana laughed. "We'll see about that."

Boris was barely listening to the others. They were but kids, and he could care less about their small squabbles. He watched as the quiet boy took his bird and followed in behind the two girls. His lips curved with a knowing smile.