Reunion

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"What are they here for?"

"Didn't we pay five rinis each yesterday for the whole week?"

"Maybe they are here for something else?"

The people of the dump also known as the pit asked each other nervously. Every week they paid a tax of five rinis each. The world still needed money to run. Everybody played a part for the survival of humanity. Rini was a currency used in all shelters. Under the attacks from the Greta many people died and the population of the world had decreased by around 75%, and all remaining united under one banner using the same currency across all the shelters as a sign of unity and for easy transactions. If the currencies were to remain the same some would even loose value as some countries of the past had very few members remaining.

As the people were still confused and asking questions the old lady wearing rags known as Hannah, suddenly called out to Trek with her hoarse voice.

"Trek come hide behind my wheelchair,it's you they are looking for, isn't it?" Hannah asked with a smile. She was a woman in her mid 80s. Everyone in the dump area respected her. It was said that her whole country was wiped out as she used to live on an island and the Greta surrounded them and razed the whole country to the ground. She broke her spine while in hiding and that's how from the waist down she paralyzed . She had a deep-seated hatred for the Greta. Most of the children living at the dump had been taken in by her and people of the damp regarded her as their chief.

"Yeah, I think so." Droy replied while scratching his head.

"Come on now, hide. I will tell you when they are gone." Hannah told him.

With that Droy went behind her wheel chair that was close to the fabric of the back of her tent pulled the cloth box on his right and covered himself in rags. Upon looking. one would think it's just a pile of rags.

Thud!

Outside of her tent the Mecha had just stopped and then it opened up from the abdomen area.

psshh!

Smoke rose and from it a figure emerged. It was a young man 1.75m tall with Sandy blonde hair and ice blue eyes but the lines at the side of his eyes revealed that he smiled a lot giving him a warm and easy going attitude that contrasted deeply with those ice cold eyes. On him he wore a navy blue uniform. Knitted on the shoulder was a golden six pointed star under a bronze upside down V. This was the uniform of a low pay grade Patrol Mecha pilot.

When the people of the dump saw who it was they calmed down somewhat. They realized who it was, it was Mac, he was once one of them till he went for recruitment two years ago as he turned 16.

"Hey, it's Mac, long time no see man, you never visit."

"Mac, don't do that again, you scared us half to death."

"So how is the world outside the shelter walls."

....

Suddenly his old friends from the dump surrounded him. Truth be told it's not that he never wanted to visit. Two years ago he went for recruitment and completed his studies after one year. He was placed as shelter patrol at Atlas city. Due to the insufficient personnel in Metal Ridge City, he got transferred here, back home. He had just arrived last week and started to work this week. Due to the low number of personnel, the shelter patrol pilots and staff all had to work full-time. He would be free on the weekend and that's when he planned to visit his family at the dumps.

During last week and this week he had heard some petty crimes involving Trek. During the past four days he had been working, he heard something about Trek. Even if the complainant didn't know Trek's name, the description was enough for him to know who it was immediately. They were childhood friends after all. Hannah took them in together and they lived like brothers ever since. With Mac as the big brother he always looking after Trek."

Today's complaint was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. If he continued to let these things related to Trek slide his seniors may catch wind of it and bring trouble to himself and maybe even more trouble for the dump side people.

"Trek," Mac suddenly called out ignoring all the questions thrown at him. "I know your there, come out say hi to big bro Mac."

From inside the tent, Hannah and Trek could hear Mac yell outside. Trek really missed Mac so after hearing that he quickly jumped from under the rags and ran outside. Hannah could only look on with a smile.

Outside Trek ran fast through the crowd and hugged Mac tightly.

"Bro, welcome home, we almost thought you forgot us."Trek asked.

"Come on, this will always be my home and this is my family, I would never forget you."Mac replied.

"True."

"But I didn't plan on visiting today, I came here because of something else. I've been hearing your name so much in the centre. I have been covering up for you but I don't know if I can keep doing it. If it gets out that I am covering up for the dump you know it won't end well for me nor the Dump."

"I know and I'm sorry bro but there is nothing else I can do." Trek apologized and started explaining " I've tried but no one wants a worker from the dumps, remember? They call us savages, thieves among many others. The Hub where you used to work at in the outer zone near the western city walls is no more. A Greta had breached the western wall and destroyed every thing as well as taking the life of many before Governor Mann arrived along with the other two pilots in their Mecha and killed it. But the damage had already been done and many lives lost. The business street has never revived since then. The owner of the Food Hub Mr.Glazer who survived the tragedy never reopened. Also the others who are at least trying to revive their businesses can't afford to hire."

Mac felt bad after hearing this. About everyone from the Dump worked in the business city in the west. If the street was as Trek said it meant that they were having a hard time. After paying the tax he could guess that they barely remained with a single rini in their pockets. He could see it in the eyes of those around him now. They were struggling just to make ends meet and we're barely able to gather just the tax money . When he considered all this, Mac could see why Trek was doing all this. He suddenly had a feeling of guilt etched deep in his heart.

Why did I assume they were alright? Why did I not send more money? Why did I let them suffer like this? He thought to himself. He then managed calmed himself down. "I need to see Mom Hannah then you and I should have a talk." Mac said as he walked towards the tent at the back amid the gazes of everyone.

.