1st Draft. -- Decaying Genes -- chapter 3 (in progress)

–––––Three


“About a year after you guys left, they started showing up in town. It just hasn’t been as bad until three months ago.” Carmen said while pouring herself a fresh beer.
“She’s right, no one ever seemed to care about us back before you all left.” Clint said sadly.
“They always seemed like hoodlums, or common gang types and they were always laughable.” Alexa said while setting down another pitcher. “Eric said it’s on the house by the way”
“If they’re here. Now, a lot could of happened” he added a look across his face rarely seen, concern or fear. It was too close to call.
“When Carl and I left you all at the border, we had a plan that was too dangerous to tell you all, my closest friends. Their was a not too hidden note of sarcasm in his voice.
It took all Tyler had to bite his tongue Adrian never had any “close friends”.
“I had hear that up in Portland they were doing things, with personal security that they were willing to train people to work for them.”
“That’s crazy, that’s across the Utah badlands.” If they caught you, you would have been burnt alive. They take this “new technology” as a sign of corruption. It never took too much to get them in a lather before the quake.” Marcus was astonished.
“You could imagine when they told me that I was a perfect candidate, how proudly I accepted.”
“I told him not to trust them.” Carl added, and silenced just as quickly by his brothers gaze. It was always a strange thing how such a large beast of a man could fear his much smaller brother.
Swallowing a pill, he began again. “I never expected this to happen, and it seems neither did they. I nearly died.”
“It was horrible, he was laying there his arm barely attached, he was bleeding out. I picked him up and…” his voice trembled, like it was happening right now.
“Enough!” His voice sharp as a blade.
Carl saw Adrians’ eyes narrow and his body tense. He quickly took a gulp of his beer.
Everyone seemed to notice, there was more tension between the two than before.
“Their doctors and scientist, took me and fixed me and did this to me.” He showed his arm the copper reflecting the firelight. “It runs on my body’s electrical output. I woke up and my arm was like this, and my eyes. I could see what no one else could. Even now I can see you Tyler what makes you tick and where your blood pools.” He reached out and touched his arm with his cold hand, and Tyler’s strength seemed to ebb away as if Adrian were drinking it like a vampire. “That is what my life is now.”
“Was if worth it, going there to become…this?”
“Of course!” His thin lips locked in a menacing smile. One that was both proud and dangerous. “I am powerful now, but still not nearly enough.”
Looking up Clint called for another beer. It was like the story sucked all the moister out of his throat. He shook his head, “where did that girl get off to?”
“Carmen went for a walk.” Marcus answered.
“Well I hope nobody else’s belongings follow her home this time.”
“And what of you Marcus, what have you been up to?” Tyler asked obviously looking for a change of topic.
“My Father died two years ago. I went to retrieve our families things. Most of the house was ransacked, all that was left was the safe room hidden in the barn. I wear his badge proudly even now.” People would test him bravery nearly as often as they would respect him, but one look into his thousand yard stare and people would think twice. He showed his father’s glistening star on his belt, it was highly polished and read U.S. Marshal. It meant nearly nothing these days. U.S. Marshals were some of the few who kept order across the States. “I also got his Peace keeper 2011, and his Ka Bar.”
“And you have a high and tight, did you join the Marines? I did my time, and I got out after the New Mexico – Texas conflict. I went and lived with him for a few months afterwards.” Some sadness in his voice.
“Is that all you got?” Carmen asked seemingly appearing from nowhere. Clint nearly choking on his beer because of the surprise.
“ No I also wear his armor.” His opened a center button on his button up shirt. “Everything else was gone.”
“That’s beautiful” Carl said leaning in to get a closer look.
“Blackened titanium with pure carbon threading.” He announced proudly. “And I’m riding his bike; it’s parked outside.”



“That’s dangerous talk missy!” A voice erupted from a bald man with a pot belly. He made sure that the whole room heard his warning.
Her shapely form struggled against the fabric of her clothes. Her thick strong muscles tensed at the man’s voice. She stood to defend herself, and her words. Her skirt fell to about mid thigh and she wore well worn boots.
“It’s true America is still alive! They are trying to rebuild, trying to help everyone.” The woman defied him with her words. The man she was with stood wordlessly, his blue eyes as cold as the ocean radiated rage. His rugged black jacket highlighted his thick wide shoulders, and neck.
“Who’s that?” Tyler asked to anyone who would answer.
“That’s an off duty deputy” the voice came from Alexa as she nodded her head at the pot bellied man. “I’ve never seen those two before.”
“I passed them on the road into town, they were on foot. They seemed lost I told them how to get here. It’s too dangerous out there at night these days, especially for a woman.”
Before they realized it Carmen had slid through the crowd like a mouse under a door, and threw herself into the fray. She was always fearless, Clint said she was reckless, I guess we disagree on that.
“Let me search your things!” He roared, judging by what you say. You must have something on you. Her bag hung defenseless off the side of her chair, and he promptly snatched it.
“What’s he looking for?” Marcus asked.
“We were questioned outside of town, me and Clint” Tyler said.
“They stopped us too” Carl said, “they questioned us about Adrians’ arm. They almost tried to confiscate it.”
“What would of happened if they took his arm?”
“I would of killed them all.” His word were chilling, and came out almost like a hiss.
“I wonder what’s so important that they would question everyone about this.” Tyler said absentmindedly.
“There’s talk that someone was bringing news of the government to the people. The New government doesn’t want it to get out.”
“I knew it! She did have it! I must arrest them…” his words both brought attention back to what was going on, and ended quickly with the man in the jacket punching him knocking him unconscious immediately.
“They have it! No more searches! They might leave us alone! Someone get the sheriff!” These shouts came from the crowd now, and then someone threw a bottle hitting the woman drawing blood.
Their table all stood at the sight, Carmen was already fighting off the crowd as best her little frame could. Marcus pushed his way through the crowd, The man in the jacket extracted vengeance on the man who threw the bottle. His fists blurred and when he stopped a tooth or part of it was imbedded in his knuckles.
“Is there another way out of here?” Tyler asked Alexa.
“Through the kitchen, but…” Her words trailed off in his ears as he rushed to their aid. Carl grabbed her around the waits and kissed her lifting her off the ground with his large frame and arms.
Their years apart had not affected their ability to work effectively as a team. They seamlessly parted the crowd to get to the four. Clint cursed as he did so.
“Come on we’ve got to go!” Tyler ordered Marcus
“What? Why we will just explain what happened.”
“We won’t get the chance, Clint killed two of them outside of town.”
“There’s an innocent woman to protect.”
“We will come with you” she announced.
“I guess it seems we have mutual problem.” Carl said to the new pair.
“Yes you big dolt, they are trying to kill us all.”
“Carl get Carmen!” Tyler said pointing.
The small statued Carmen was fighting four people, she stabbed one in the knee before Carl yanked her from her feet. She shrieked not realizing who picked her up. He threw her over his shoulder like a bag of laundry.
Alexa led them all through the doors into the kitchen, and locked them”
“What the hell is going on out there?” Eric cried from the fryer.
“I have to go” Alexa announced. “They saw me help them and if I stay they will burn this place down.
“Well knock me out then or else I’m screwed too.”
Carl complied with a well placed punch.
Alexa glared at him.
Alexa glared at him.
“What? It needed to be done.”
Sirens could be heard over the shouts from the dining room.
The fire escape was a rusty deathtrap, Clint tested it with an unsteady foot it with an unsteady foot, it immediately began to give way.
"Well were not going that way"
"Open the door!" The voices anger penetrated the door.
"Time to go" Marcus said with his weight of his body held to the door.
"Adrian do you need help getting down?" Carl asked his face showing nothing but concern. " I can drop you down if..." Adrian's eyes flashed a anger that caught Tyler's words in his throat.
"I can get down by myself" he sneered. Before anyone could stop him he dove through the window and rolled on the blacktop with the grace of a cat. Electricity arced and played across where he landed, and at the base of his legs.
Carl quickly followed suit landing stiffly but easily. Carmen hung herself out the windowsill and dropped the remaining feet. Alexa and the travelers followed suit.
Two officers sat leaning against Carl’s bike, he felt his pockets and damned himself for leaving all of his weapons in the car. All he had left was his boot knife. He quickly took the sheath out and placed it behind his back before thinking of dealing with them.
Carl walked over casually to the two officers leaning against his bike “What’s up fellas?”
“This your bike?” They asked eyeing the giant of a man.
“It is. Something wrong?”
One of the officers reached for the his radio knowing that if he made a problem that both of them wouldn’t be enough. As he reached for the radio, Carl’s knife sank deep into the plastic and flesh of both Officer’s hand and neck. He fell to the ground dead without so much as a gurgle. The other officer with this moment of realization, took off running.