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“No child, the desert is near impossible to cross. Sector seven you talk of, sounds as if its full of evil.”

             
She nodded slightly, “the town was full of gangs and the alliance who was the governing center of that entire region was extremely evil. They were already trying to reestablish control.”

             
“Donovan, he is a product of this alliance you speak of?”

             
Rachel placed her plate on the table, ending her feast. “Not exactly, his parents were gifted doctors some how made it possible for him to survive in some form of biological stasis for a long length of time.”

             
“Intriguing, I shall do what I can to bring up this information. How old is your friend?”

             
Rachel was hesitant to answer. “I'm not sure you will believe me. I somewhat question it myself.”

             
Simon sensed the doubt in her voice. “You can trust me, I will not flinch.”

             
She still wavered with uncertainty. “Well he claims...” her voice got lower, as she leaned closer to Simon. “Over Eight hundred years.” Seeing no change in his expression, she continued. “I sparsely believed it myself, but I saw the equipment and some of the duty logs from those chips.” The silence grew between them. She now felt uncomfortable. “You do believe me don't you?”

             
“Indeed I do child. Tomorrow I will come get you and we can gather at my place for some breakfast. Donovan is welcome to come along.” he offered.

             
“You seem more receptive to Donovan then the others. I thank you for that.” Rachel was appreciative of the fact.

             
Simon gave a understanding expression, his face old from experiences of life. He rested his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, while he seemed middle age to her, she could not be certain of that.

             
“Do not be harsh my child, my people are not open to those who have implants and modifications done to their body. I sense however this was not Donovan's choice.”

             
Looking at Simon, she realized he was very perceptive. Looking about, she began feeling uneasy and scared. The only constant in her life now, was Donovan. “Simon can you take me back to my quarters, please?”

             
“Of course, my dear,” offering his arm, she placed her hand on his arm. Being led out of the building, her breathing returned to normal.

             
“I'm sorry Simon.”

             
“For what child?” he questioned.

             
“For drawing you away so soon.”

             
He gave a hearty chuckle, “I was ready to go anyway, and you have been such lovely company.”

             
“It feels so safe here among these rocks.”

             
Stopping in front of her shelter, he nodded, “You like Nv-Ya?”

             
“Yes I do Simon, thank you and good night.”

             
“Good night child.” Simon then headed towards his own abode. She watched him walk away for several moments, before entering her own shelter. Red Sam was asleep in the corner of the main area. Peering in one room, she saw a few blankets on the floor, apparently made for her, however she chose to slide up next to Donovan. She felt safe and warm there. She felt Donovan’s hand come to a rest on her side, and mutter a few words thick with drowsiness. She only smiled for a instant and went to sleep.

Chapter 12

             
The next morning, Rachel woke to the sensation of being crushed by Donovan's body. She had been pulled tightly into him. His arm folded across her abdomen. She felt his breath on her neck, and to her own surprise, she enjoyed it. For the longest time she laid there, looking about the room from her position.

             
Donovan began moving, crushing her to the point it grew uncomfortable. “Donovan, you're hurting me,” she whispered, trying to pull his arm away.

             
“I'm sorry,” his voice sounding quite sleepy. Lifting up, he decided to dress and face a new day.

             
“Did you sleep well?” she inquired.

             
“Quite, thank you, and yourself?” He began lacing up his boots.

             
“Very good actually thank you.” She wanted to enjoy her two remaining days, before once again heading out. She was torn for having to decided. She was really wanting to stay. She watched him grab his backpack and weapons. “What are you doing?”

             
“I thought I would go scout out the direction we will be going and get a idea of what is out there for myself.”

             
She watched him finish up. “Donovan?” she gathered the courage to ask him, if she could stay. She didn't really need his permission, but it was important.

             
Stopping in the doorway, he turned to face her, “yeah?”

             
She glanced down at her feet, “Never mind, just be careful out there. Maybe you should eat some breakfast first?”

             
Donovan motioned towards the common room, “Red Sam, brought us some fruit.” Walking into the room he gave Red Sam, a hearty greeting. “Its all right for me to leave the village to go scout out the area I wish to travel, in the upcoming day?”

             
For a moment, Red Sam's expression remained blank. “We would not care, however some of our scouts and leaders can give you information about the different areas if you want, instead of going out for yourself.”

             
Donovan shook his head no, “I'd rather do it myself.” Taking some fruit he placed them in a cargo pocket in the back pack.

             
Rachel emerging from the back room. “Simon and I are going to try and figure out how to play the chips.”

             
“You're really interested in those things aren't you?” said Donovan has he Slung the pack, across his back.

             
“When I find something of importance or about your past, I'm going to wipe that stupid grin off your face.”

             
“There was little information on them that was helpful, I told you that.”

             
“You looked at what four chips? There's one hundred of them,” said Rachel arguing his logic.

             
“Have fun Rachel,” he teased with a smirk.

             
“You're impossible,” she yelled to his back, watching him depart. Turning her attention to Red Sam, she saw his frightful expression, prompting her to soften her own gaze. “Sorry,” she told him sympathetically.

             
“Its all right, I have parents.”

             
She was not sure how to take that comment so silence was her best option. Silence is golden she thought to herself.

             
Her wait for Simon wasn't long. She showed him several of the chips. Curious he looked them over. “While these liner chips are crude, for being a earlier design, they are rugged, and still work. I have a old view finder. I believe I can modify it to accept and read these chips. I don't have much in the way of energy.”

             
“Would power cells work?” her expression showing of hope.

             
“You seem to have all the answers.” Carrying the bag for her, he guided her to his own home. Like the others it was chiseled out from the rock. His home had a few more furnishings, and gadgets and items scattered about the room.

             
“Sorry I'm not use to having company,” excusing his lack of house keeping.

             
Amused she carefully looked at the items. “Its all right, I'm thankful you invited me over.”

             
“Where is Donovan?” He began stoking the embers in the fireplace, getting a fire going.

             
“He decided to go scouting this morning.” She walked up beside him in an attempt to help him.

             
“He is a restless spirit.” Simon projected. He got a fire started and took the wood that Rachel had offered.

             
“Do you think looking at these chips is a waste of time?”

             
“Nothing is a waste of time, has long has your learning something, the key is what you are able to do with the information.”

             
Soon Simon had a hearty breakfast, that included some rare bacon, and coffee.

             
“Oh thank you for the coffee,” she squealed in delight. The aroma alone was a blessing. Holding the cup with both hands, she cherished the warmth of the cup.

             
“Was life that rough in your home land?”

             
She nodded, “I'm so thankful to get out. The rape gangs were almost has bad has the alliance. The only time it was safe to move was at night, and even then you had to be extremely careful and quiet. Just trying to find a mouthful of food was near impossible.”

             
“Donovan your only family you had left?”

             
She shook her head no. “He found me, I lost my dad a few days before. He went out looking for food and never returned. I would love to think he was alive, but I have no clue.”

             
Simon gave her a sympathetic smile, sliding the remaining plate of bacon and eggs towards her. She in turn took half, pushing the plate back towards Simon. “Thank you for your kind generosity. First time I can ever remember getting seconds.”

             
“I will whip up a batch later for your comrade. Time get to work on the view finder.”

             
After a hour they managed to get the chips playing, and patiently they watched each chip. Upon the ending of chip number seventeen Simon looked at Rachel. “I hope you two do not plan on going much farther south?”

             
“Why?”

             
“Well according to the chip, sector twenty five which use to be Mexico and beyond, is all gone, for we came from that area, and its all under water. From memory, I would say we traveled two months to get here. Its possible the water receded since, over the years.”

             
“The creek just beyond the village, where does the water come from?”

             
“There is a vast mountain range that snakes its way east by north east. The farther it goes the higher it gets.”

             
“Shall we watch another one?”

             
“Certainly.” Simon placed in a new chip, however the next ten were songs and movies, that bored the viewers.

             
“Some form of entertainment?” Simon asked.

             
“Yes, the music wasn't bad, but I fail to really understand watching movies.” Rachel was unable to grasp the concept.

***

             
Donovan skirted a few of higher grade ridges, figuring it pointless to scale them. Looking at his compass he kept a southern direction. He suddenly felt alone, and somewhat lost. Not having Rachel at his side was depressing to him. Deciding to keep the patrol down to just three or four hours, he reached the top of one mountain top. The view was spectacular. He could see for miles and miles. Trees and a few birds could be seen in the distance. Calculating that distance would take several weeks to reach. Maybe I can call that home. At least he knew he would have good neighbors to his north. He pondered where the savages lived and more importantly needed to find where they inhabited. Sitting down he pulled out a bottle of water and one of the pieces of fruit. Biting into orange colored skin tasted bitter, so he tore that away and began to eat the sweet soft interior. The juices filled his mouth, has he ate the pulp. Learning his lesson he took a second orange peeled away the skin, and then ate its content. The juice ran down his chin. The breeze was cool from this perch.

             
Slinging the back pack across his back he continued the scouting to the south. The rocky terrain gave way to more vegetation with richer looking soil. Grabbing a handful of soil the dirt felt alive in his hand making him smile. He was tired of the lifeless sand. For more then a hour he scouted the area keeping track of his direction. Moving back towards the creek, he took a long cool drink of water. The near by hill was not to steep, prompting him to climb it.

             
Surveying the entire area, he spotted someone or something  laying face down. Using caution he began his decent, and once he could see more clearly, it appeared to be a human male. Seemly unconscious he still approached with caution. “Hello?” He knelt down and turned the man over. Taking out his bottle, he poured a bit of liquid on the mans lips

             
Donovan listened to man mutter. He didn't see any visible signs of injuries. Taking a rage he moisten it with some of the water and wiped the mans face and sprinkled more water on his clothing to help cool him. “Are you all right?” Donovan asked.

             
Donovan then carefully poured a bit more water on his lips, and this time the man responded a little drinking the water.

             
Giving him a chance to recover, he studied the man, his clothing was ragged with the appearance of being from the sector seven area. He didn't appear to old, maybe in his early twenties. His hair was rusty blonde.

             
The man opened his eyes, trying to mutter, however Donovan was unable to understand him. “Just rest a minute, you're safe.” Donovan reassured the man.

             
After several minutes the man was becoming more coherent. “May I have some more water?” his voice was rasp.

             
“Of course.” Donovan allowed him to drink more. He watched the man wipe his face with the wet cloth.

             
“W-where did you come from?” his voice sounding so rough.

             
“I'm from sector seven. Who are you?”

             
The man looked up at his rescuer. “Scott.”

             
“Rest a few more minutes and I'll carry you to safety.”

             
With a horrid look he struggled to speak. “Don't tell me the alliance crosses the bowl?”

             
“Bowl?” Donovan was not familiar with the term.

             
“Yes the bowl, where the pacific ocean use to be?”

             
“Perhaps later you can inform me what you're talking about.” Donovan again placed on the backpack and slinging his laser rifle, he began carrying the man back towards the village. This time he used the rocky terrain for safety and some concealment.

             
About a hour into the trip back, he spotted movement. Setting Scott down he watched about a dozen or so savages clothed in pelts armed with bows and spears making their way slowly towards Nv-Ya.

             
Donovan signaled Scott to remain quiet. Carefully he removed his pack and taking his weapon in hand slowly began inching forward looking for a good angle with good cover. He watched more and more savages positioning themselves to attack the unsuspecting village.