The Splinters' Legacy

As I left the forest I tried to get what I had seen out of my head, I had even managed to convince myself the squashed bullets on the ground weren't real, they couldn't be. I mean, what would I have done if they were, who would believe me. Drowning in my own thoughts I made my way to shore, it wasn't too far from the city and seeing as there were no sounds of mechanical feet, I was good.

Walking through the overgrown rubble and collapsed buildings, remnants of the peace that was, I saw something strange. It was one of the empire's tanks, and though our aim was to destroy them, the one I had seen had been ripped apart, not blown up. It was weird, it was as if something thrice the size of the tank had put both hands inside and ripped it in half like a clam. I didn't focus on it too much though as it was destroyed, and that was all that mattered.

Continuing through the ruins, I saw something on the more disturbing side. A woman, deceased, holding the pieces of a child. The child seemed to have been blown into many pieces, though there was no sign of an explosion or anything of the sort, strange. I didn't allow the sight to stop me though as it was nothing new, it might have been the sixth one of the sort I had seen, or the twentieth, time had done a number on me.

As I got to the shore I admired the beauty of the sea, one of the few things spared by the splinters. Whilst yes, a large amount of sea life had died out, the ocean had managed to recover in only a few decades. Land wasn't as fortunate, most of the animals that used to roam were annihilated in the initial blast, and the rest died in the wasteland that followed. The only upside to the situation was the fact that with most of human civilization gone, nature took its course and the earth was back on its way to healing.

Though yes, their intentions were pure, and the result seemed good, I could never forgive them. The "Rejuvenation" cost humanity over 7.5 billion souls, and that was being generous. And for the rest who remained, we were left to live in a world ruled by an iron fist and governed by biased laws. I nor any of us in the Restorationists would live in such a world, we would have a say in the jobs we did and the miracle of life they sought to control.

"... Raven..." My radio finally kicked to life after a whole night and early morning of silence, the voice of an older man rung.

"I'm here..."

"Oh thank God, I was starting to think those bastards had got you. Anyway, make your way to D6's safehouse. Wait, can you make your way to-" He always had a habit of worrying too much, I'd have to remind him later that I was no longer the child he raised.

"I can... if it's still there that is..." The bombing run they had done this time was better than the last, and they were getting better it seemed.

"Don't worry, as close as it got, were good."

"See you there...?"

"Unfortunately no... I'm somewhere different, plus, this is a mission for you... get the remaining survivors to main base... and I'm afraid that's as much time as I have for you... don't let them down." And with that, the radio went cold once more.

Before I undertook my task though, I used one of the rations I had, I hadn't eaten in a while, I forgot. I didn't stand still though, I ate as I walked. I would have to reenter the city, it seemed like a waste of time, but I knew I'd have to go back. I just wanted to be where they were, where I had scattered them, to remember why I fought for what I did.

I had lost my map in the commotion, so I'd have to find the safehouse on memory alone. The ruins I was in was a regular for defectors though, so I had it memorized. I wouldn't be able to count on my memory for much longer though as soon it'd get moved again. The bombings were close. too close.

Walking between the bent and broken giants I admired what once was. Structures that scraped the sky now lay sprawled across the ground in many pieces, charred black from explosions and broken by the fall. At eye level I looked at the countless windows missing there glass and buildings used as a canvases to express the frustrations of those who remain, mad and sane. What once was, now only by stories told live, are cold and colorless when they were meant to entertain with there many colors and hues. I've seen them work and what they are supposed to be, but what I wouldn't give to see them in there time, T.Vs are they called.

Tripping over myself and thoughts I eventually made it to the safehouse. A bank vault, bills scattered about would see it fit to be used as kindling for a flame to warm tired hands. On the walls still remain... remains of those caught off guard, those burnt and splattered, like shadows frozen in place. I made my way past the familiar sights and over webbing tree roots down into the vault. As the imperialists rarely ever left their contraptions, it was unnecessary for the place of choice to be more than a secluded room. It was better for it too, an easy way out was a good thing considering the fire power they held.

Entering the room I could see the people I had come for, in all I had counted ten. Three children and seven adults, the job would be an easier one. I got aquatinted with them to the degree I needed to be.

"The names Raven, I'm sure you've heard it, and I'm sure the one who sent you here gave you instructions… just follow me."

"Oh! of course we've heard of you… you're our salvation after all…" A blonde woman responded, I could barely see that much under all her garments, sweaters and scarfs.

"Good, so we can get moving?"

"But of course… lead the way. My name is Pearl by the way." She seemed happy, I would be too.

"Nice to meet you... Pearl…?"

I told them my cover name and we we were on the move, the faster we begun the journey, the faster it would end.

It wouldn't take more than a day, and that was only because of the people we had, but if they weren't willing, or if they were tired, it would take longer. We made our way over all obstacles with relative ease as we made our way to the subways. From there we would use the tunnels as our guide to get to main base. It wasn't difficult, it was only a few rights and a few lefts.

The walk wouldn't be without excitement though. As we traversed the unlikely landscape we heard engines, gas ones. I had been given no warning as to a patrol so it meant one thing, anarchists. We quickly darted into a building and took shelter as we waited for the mufflers to disappear into the distance.

"Thank God… I wouldn't want to fight one of them… I've heard it takes six bullets to take down just one of those… creatures…" The blonde was talkative.

"If you're lucky… they're usually pumped to high hell with all types of drugs and there heads are always covered with makeshift helmets that are stronger than they should be … their a pain really…"

"You know a lot about them?" She was surprised.

"It is my job, if I'm out here most of my days I need to know what I'm dealing with." Nothing but force of habit.

"I bet you know just as much about imperialist tanks?" She was interested in my knowledge, dangerous knowledge.

"Don't worry about that right now, let's get moving."

"Yeah… sorry…"

The subways were pitch black though so I had to use a flashlight. This was obviously prepared for and I had one which almost seemed like the sun itself at times. This meant everyone could walk at a comfortable distance away from me and each other. Time passed as quick as I hoped it would and we were a few hours into the walk, six to be exact.

"Hey Raven, how about we slow down a bit… please…?" I could hear the fatigue in her voice.

I had been lucky as they hadn't asked for a break once before, and as such I was happy to give them their rest. They were also hungry, another thing we prepared for. I gave them rations and bottles of water and they seemed content.

As we had been walking so long they decided to have an hour break, they'd sleep. They each pulled out their weathered sleeping bags and made their ways inside. In no time they were all asleep, they must have not gotten any sleep through the night as it was about midday. I couldn't blame them though, the sound of war was not a pleasant thing.

I am still above you, yet you do not look at me, you can not look at me. You are aimless, first to the white where the shine emerges and then back to the grey maze. You have stumbled upon more like you, blues, yet yours is different. They follow you, if you go high, they go high, if you go low, they go low. You all go low, below the surface I walk on, the surface you walk on. I follow to see what you shall do, peculiar blue. I ponder if like you blue, are there more of me, the peculiar white, apart from him that is.

Them that follow you enter into grey masses, they will, yet they do not move. I wait for them to become the color of what surrounds them, yet they do not. As you get close to the grey that surrounds you, you lean on it , you will, yet you do not move. Why do this peculiar blue?

As you lay unmoving, the rest of you moves, they all pull close to you. They change, once blue becomes red, some light some dark. You hear them as I do, you begin to move. You also turn red, a light one, then you return to what you are.

"What's going on here… ?" You pull away from the rest, you reach for your grey mass, they have their's pointed at you.

"Oh Raven… you have no idea the problems you cause for us…. caused..." Their grey masses start to turn red.

They will take away your blue… I want to see your blue, your will. I will make them beautiful, though they will turn grey.