The Wasteland

The auburn rays blended into the purple of the clouds overcasting the desert skies. The sound of shifting metal clattered down the dusty unpaved route. A caravan made of hefty armored siding and re-inflated tires bounced heavily as it motioned onward over rock and sand. The outside a patch-work of rusted repurposed metal and tin shook with hollow echoes. However inside, a youthful figure comfortably laid across the truck’s floor. His arms resting under his head and one leg over a raised and bent knee. Just behind his head was a small door leading to the driver seat of the transport. In the chair sat a male, covered in a full suit of armor. A mix of robotics and some unknown faction of military tech. His visor blocking out all view of his eyes and nose. His mouth was covered by a separate guard that kept it unviewable. However, despite this, he still spoke out from the communicator device in the helm. His voice just as clear as anyone’s but the undertone of a muffled speaker.

“So, you’re going all the way out there again? What is that like the 4th time this week?

Silence. Not that it was unfamiliar to him. The kid never spoke. Well not outside small pleasantries. Some “Hellos” or “See you later” but never anything pass that. Hell, He didn’t even know his name. Never spoke enough to ask. The driver continued on his path until the setting sun’s burnt orange glow shifted into night’s unending shade before he reached the destination point. Like always, the rider stood to his feet upon the caravans last stop within the borders of the barren waste and gave his body one last stretch.

“Look. I know you don’t talk much but here…”

The driver reached over to the passenger side chair; he took out a half torn map. It was worn and dirty. Some spots of water damage but overall, in decent condition. He tossed it back to the rider who caught the papers and looked back to the driver who began to speak again.

“I had a son like you. A Relic. He always before a mission said he’ll be back. Until the day he didn’t. What I’m trying to say is… Be safe out there, kid.”

Silence. Again, as always. At least for the most part.

“Driver…Be back on time, Yea?”

The driver didn’t care if he spoke from obligatory factors or a genuine response to his statement; though it wasn’t viewable, he smiled under his guard and turned back in the seat to open the hatch doors for the rider to exit.

“Yea… I’ll be back. You better be here.”

“Kwinn. It’s Kwinn.” He said leaving into the dusty wastelands.

The clay-colored dirt kicked up as the driver began to move out. Without another word, Kwinn stood outside a run-in encampment. Rusted metal sidings made into makeshift barricades all around the huts. Towns like these were goldmines for supplies. One, formally known as iron sand, now called Prism, became the prime resource. Once the world created a way for it to be repurposed, it became another energy source for industry tycoons to takeover. The collectors for these corporations became known and Dusters. The smalltime gatherers of this resource, Relics.

Kwinn reached into his side pocket and takes out the map the driver gave. He opened the pages to view a rough, hand drawn directions, leading him south through the row of boarded houses. While he followed the route, climbing on top of a small ledge for a better look, he noticed a section underneath the map. It was faded and stained but some words could be made out.

“...found…boxes…sand…” Not sure what to make of the words, Kwinn decided to stop for a moment to look over the course. He was so much into studying the map that he couldn’t notice the figure coming up behind him. Four-legged saber-tooth machine boomed a tech enhanced roar that shook Kwinn to the bone. He hopped off the ledge before the duster could swipe at him, the edge of the claw catching his shoulder just barely. The duster gave chase. Tracking him down all throughout the small town, Kwinn finally found some luck, He ducked into an open store, the large beast following as expected, and roared again seeing the relic trapped. It readied itself to pounce, and when it did, Kwinn sprung to the side and let it crash into a freezer storage unit. Kwinn quickly closed the door and sealed the beast inside. With the danger contained Kwinn exited the store, only then he heard the lock breaking off from the freezer door. He ran away fast, weaving through the town, he motions toward an open door and stays quiet. The hefty footsteps of the duster moving west of him and growing quieter as it went on. Kwinn got back to looking at the map and found he was exactly in the next step.

The gruff inhales of his respirator slowing down as he turned on a flashlight. The dust inside the abandoned house was thick enough to leave a layer of grey on the furnishing. The house was bare and cold from the night air. The hard floorboards creek with every step. Kwinn makes way for the lower level. The guide telling of door to open but none was found. He began to search, rearranging the tables and chairs in search of clues. He was just about to discontinue his search when he moved a figurine upon a fireplace mantle. Suddenly the clank of metal sprang into action. The wall directly behind Kwinn began to rise. The other side lit by a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. Directly below the bulb was a key on top of a small black book resting on a lonely table. Cautiously he entered the room. Looking for traps or dangers.

He stepped closer and lifted the book and key. Caked in dust from its time in the room, the key had an ornate handle made of crafted twisted copper, leading down the smooth neck, to the straightened teeth. The small black book had a key shaped spot, and layered in the same, if not more, dust than the key. He brushed away the time old dirt and opened the book to find ripped pages. Thinking of the map he instantly removed the map that led him from the side pocket and onto the ridges of the book.

A perfect match. Kwinn held the book in an almost breathless awe. While he held the book’s missing pages, he began to read the broken passage.

“Congrats to whoever found the map. Take the key and the boxes of sand are yours”

Kwinn took the key and left back into the previous room. He looked again to the map. This time the full display of the course he had to follow. He left the home, closing the door after himself, and turned back to look up at the night sky.

A new day was breaking, The silent night left behind Quiet and peaceful rays of blue and yellow lines. The air was calm and just a shallow breeze rustled the grass around him. Kwinn moved on, and with the complete map he now found himself in front of a large fountain. The statues ruined from time and the water long dried. Just the loose remanence of coins at the bottom. The final place the map told to go was there. He stepped in and walked around the inside until he heard a heavy metal thud. Kwinn looked underfoot, to his surprise, a hidden door. He reached down and like the book said, four large boxes of prism were found. Kwinn was speechless. His mask making hefty sighs as he tried to contain his excitement. His surprise ended with the sound of cannon fire and a defeated duster sliding across the ground toward the edge of the fountain.

“Sorry I had to use you as bait. You did great. Well earned for haul for a Relic like you. Congrats kid. Don’t worry bout the duster, I was hunting it for a while, and finally got it. I say that’s about five grand a box. Or you can take the duster body, same price total. How about we head back?”

Kwinn taken back by all that happened, feeling a mix of emotions just began to load the boxes into the carrier and nods his head.

“Yea. It’s been a long night.”

The driver stepped over to Kwinn and patted his shoulder.

“Told you I be back on time. Let’s head home.”