Thread: Ruin And Rebirth (Mech Pilot and darkangel76)

The hybrid approached the water, satisfied to see such a large body of water flowing so strongly through the desolated landscape. Still, it was clear as he got close that the water wasn't the kind he'd like to drink, at all. Tough luck. Still somewhere it was probably possible to get potable water, since he was sure that humans were living nearby. Even if that specific settlement didn't control the water source, they could probably point him in the right direction. What remain to be seen was if what he had was something those people needed. Because the only really important things he had to trade were the remnants of the gas he took from the now uselesd gas station, some batteries and, his trophies Three unopened Kit-Kat boxes that he was able to get his hands on in an assault to a food storage facility near Salt Lake City. He wouldn't trade those lightly as they could prove really valuable for a lot of other people and could be used in a more do-or-die situation, but he was in dire need of water already and therefore one of the times he could consider the possibility. Still that was enough for him to wash his face and enjoy the cool and pleasant sensation of the water on his skin. It was a little bit cold, but still, very pleasant. It also served to help with his sleepness. He had been driving for days on end, resting for about three to four hours every day. He enjoyed riding through the night, so usually slept on the afternoon, when the sun was too bright and hot for him. Another splash of water successfully took a smile from his lips while soaking his face and hair, some drops wetting his t-shirt. The young man briefly fought the desire to take a swim, in the end deciding to save that for when he finally met the ocean. Still, he hadn't find potable water, and his search needed to continue, as he prefered not to drink from the river itself unless absolutely necessary. Back to his bike, he dried both hands and hair in a white, almost ragged towel, before puting on his leather jacket and the backpack over it. Confident that the human settlement wouldn't be too hard to find, at least for someone like him, he decided to just go there, get his water, and then leave before anyone had any chance to cause any trouble. Humans tended not to like him, he had discovered int the worst possible way, and that was the very reason why he always wore shades. He couldn't do anything about the pale skin, but humans could accept it as something unnusual but still within reason. His eyes though? Freaked out every single human being who actually got to see it. So it was for the best to just get things done and get the hell out, least he would have to fight, or even kill any of them. It was certainly strange, his new view of humanity. During his indocrination process, he learn to see humans as merely cattle. They could be slaughtered, enslaved, and completely disregarded. They were lesser creatures, not worth of any kind of respect or pity. That was the vision he stepped out of his Pod with. And he was truthful to those principles in the beginning and for some time after it, as well. When did it changed, really? He guessed it was when he discovered the library. There was so much on all those books, a completely different point of view than what was taught by his creators. Yes, there was pretty messed up side to those inferior beings, but they were also capable of so much, from the smallest of gestures to the greatest of miracles. He read about it while studying the greatest minds to ever been born on Earth, its greatests philosophers and thinkers, and suddenly, he comprehended so much. Things that even his own creators were oblivious to. Now he couldn't say he valued human life more than anything, but still, as a whole, he saw worth in any living thing. Which was way better than seeing them as completely and utterly worthless creatures. At some point, Humanism became his favourite study subject and human philosophy one of his passions. Knowing he was wasting thime there, the hybrid hopped on the bike, the engine roaring as it ignited, gladly showing all its horsepower through the soundwaves. He was about to leave, hand already twisting the accelerator and letting go of the clutch, when the wind turned and something sweet hit him. It was a light fragrance, smooth but ticklish in his nose. Some kind of delicate flower maybe, the ones that spent its day in sunny fields, but mixed with a slight hint of human sweat and female pheromones. Most of all it smelled of inocence. It was a girl no doubt, and her scent made him almost a little dizzy. She wasn't that far from him, he could tell by the intensity of the feeling. Probably someone from the nearby settlements although he was really surprised that someone could smell that sweetly in a desolated place like that. If he just followed that lingering sensation he would soon be getting where he planned to go. The motorcycle advanced slowly, getting back to the road and gradually gaining speed as it dodged the debris scattered all around, the young man making sure not to go too fast. It was an error to blindly speed into unknown, but obviously controlled territory. He was already closing in on the source of his trail, showing he was even closer to the settlement than initially presumed, when a heart piercing scream cut through the silence, hitting his ears like a sledgehammer. The scent from before, so sweet and pleasant was suddenly washed away by the more acre and nauseating smell of fear. As many animals on Earth once could, it was simple for the hybrid to smell that particular emotion. Humans had a pretty distinctive odor when terrified, and it was that one that he felt from her now. And she was close. Very close. He was able to see her as soon as he turned the next intersection, not even a mile away from him. The woman, if he could call her that, as she was still pretty young, was running away from what seemed to be a fight happening a few hundred meters further back. He couldn't say what side was winning or losing at that point. Two goons followed the escaping girl and were quickly gaining territory, being clear that sooner or later she would get caught. She was running with all her might one would guess, her golden blonde hair fluttering in the wind, her breath ragged with the exercise and the rush of the moment, the flushed skin on her cheeks glistening in the sun as she ran almost desperately. Time seemed to stop as he admired the young female, every beautiful feature of her very delicate face, the slender curves of her running body, and the clarity of her blue eyes, in what seemed to be a slow motion moment. Only one thing ran through his head as he watched that beautiful, scared creature 'She's so damn slow...' The motorcycle gained more speed, as the male pressed it to do so, the engine complaining with an angry roar that filled the silent morning. The hybrid would get to her a lot faster than her pursuers at that speed, taking what little time he had to wonder why he even decided to do it. It was hardly of his concern what happened to her, but still there he was, rushing to someone's rescue. Few seconds later they both crossed ways, his bike just a little to her right. The pilot hit the brakes, and suddenly the bike was skidding through the road, its rear turning completely as he used his left leg to support its weght. A moment later, it came to a halt between her and her pursuers. He dropped the sidestand with his foot, and got off the bike, while getting rid of his backpack. Hey, little girl. Are you alright? - He asked, simply, as he turned to her, paying little to no attention to the goons that approached them.