Elizabeth expressions subtly changing now and then as the van went along it’s path. “A long time ago, there where these ass hats in our block they calmed down now, but they get what they no matter from who our what, secretly beat people all that stuff, everyone kept there heads low, but sometimes you can’t keep it low enough, they cross boundaries, and then you gotta make them pay…” “Guess what I’m trying to say is that I understand whats in your head, and it’s kinda comforting knowing someone else is out there like that.” As long as you leave me alone.

  A FEW HOURS LATER

  X-1

  I sat down at the table looking around the room for Good Cook, not seeing him anywhere, I got up, must be in the kitchen, and I drifted across the center of the cafeteria, looking through the view port into the kitchen. Nothing. Probably in the crowed somewhere, maybe he took Elizabeth to another table. No. I felt my body tighten up, as I began using my nose, every single smell mixing together. Ugh, that is pointless. I then felt a hand on my should. “I’m pretty sure if you sit down, he’ll show face.” I turned around, Elizabeth staring face to face with me, and extra tray in her hands. “I didn’t see him either, so I figured I’d pitch in, might as well.” I brought my eyes up looking one more time. “Just take the tray, and sit down before you have a panic attack you wear it on your face.” I exhaled, and took it. He might just be running late, that fucker might be holding him up. I sat down, Elizabeth sitting next to me. My eyes going over the room, as I ate over and over again.

  I need heard some yelling, my attention immediately being drawn to it, seeing Good Cook flying through the crowned, and onto the floor, crawling away, as Cliff came out in an aggressive posture.

  I immeditly picked up the table, throwning it at Cliff, and he look in my direction, just as the face of it hit him in the forhead I ran forward, as the tabel fell, and he stumbled back a bit.

  Jumping up into the air, so I could get to his height, landing a punch right into his right temple, sending him stumbling back farther in a daze.

  I touched the ground, as he tried backing away, attempting to recover, but I rushed forward kicking him in the balls.

  He let out an aggressive grunt, and immeditly tried to punch me I dashed back, as the punch came around wind splashing against my face.

  I jumped forward again, slamming my fist into his face. A blood red coming out of his nose, he attempted to back away again keeping his arms up defnesively.

  I picked up a nearby chair, throwing it at him, as I rushed forward him head poking out just a little, then retrating as it bash against his forwarms. I then reached forward, past his two forarms, grabbed on his, and head pressing down onto his eyes, as heard as I could. He then pushed me away, sending my across the room, I controed my body, so that I landed against the wall feet first, then front flipping off of it, we stared at eacother for what felt like a seconds until I felt something pierce my skin, a sudden shock going through my body, but I fought the convolsions that followed. I looked to my left, grabbing onto the tasers cord, pulling it out getting ready to charge forward at the caretaker, just as conflict control, came out around him. A cuff latching onto me from behind. I attempted to move, pushing the conflict control personel that latched onto me around with me, the other immeditly coming to his aid, hitting my across the head with his cuff-lance. The grappling onto my neck, and forcing me down to the ground with the other control-unit. A whole hord of them descending on me with shields, batons, and cuff-lances in hand. There exo-suits clanging against the tiled floor, clamping down onto me the cuff-lances forcing my hands together, one of them then coming and cuffing them together, followed by my legs, and eventually the two cuffs where joined together. One of them then picking me up by the link, taking me down the hall into a containment cell, setting me down onto the floor, as a group with shields and cuff-lances, came up behind him, one from the group holding onto his chassis, ready to pull him back, he then unlatched the cuffs, and backed away the group quickly continuing out, shutting the door behind them, I sat down on the bed in the room watching them take Cliff to the room over. The two of use staring at each other as they did. I then exhaled. What the hell even happened I know Cliff he isn’t that violent and it takes a bit to piss him off.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  GOOD COOK

  I brought the table back up to where it was, and sat down with Elizabeth. Well I played my damsel in distress, although I was hoping that X-1 wouldn’t get involved.

  A dumb thing to hope for to be honest. “So what was that about.” I looked at Elizabeth. “Oh, you know Oni’s, more hot tempered then the rest of use and in Cliff’s case it’s apperenlty cooking.” I saw her squint her eyebrow slightly. And then look forward continuing with her meal.

  Yeah that’s going to be a tough one to chew for her hopefully it works on the caretakers though, I mean this was short notice, but I think me and Cliff set ourselves up for success here.

  I then looked over at Cauldron for a second. Hopefully he has too, whatever it is he needed that for.

  ELIZABETH

  I continued into our cell, immediately laying down on my bed staring up at the empty bunk. Well hopefully that shit show doesn’t leave X-1 out of the picture for too long, because if Cauldron makes a move esspically right now, because having someone that is capable of reaming everybody’s ass might come in handy when push comes to shove.

  And hopefully my little trauma dump forges a bond that X-1 wants. I then remembered when they push me into that room, how I cut me hand on that shiv, the blood trail leading the guards right to them, right before they could even ripe my cloths off. That’s what you get you horny pubescent fucks. Still I learned a lot from them, how to survive, how to get what you want, I mean our philosophy’s are radically different but similar.

  A good play, and hell even Cauldron was a good investment. if this works I might call him the gift that keeps on giving.

  THE NEXT DAY

  X-1

  A caretaker came by with two people from the containment unit right behind him, he then unlocked the door, and continued out, guiding me down to the cafeteria, letting me loose once we did.