The Industrialist

Chapter 9: Outsiders

"Damian," A fat-built guy, with hairs all over his chest, spoke as Damian halted the vehicle. "I see you have something to share?" The guy said as the engine hissed white smoke from the hood.

The guy’s facial features were unnoticeable because of the gas mask. His hair though was long, with boils on the side of his cheeks that ran down to his neck.

’Chemical infections, perhaps?’ Lance deduced.

Damian shook the guy’s hand as they disembarked. The two smaller guys behind the fat one began to provide George and Joe with ammunition. Lance’s comrades reloaded their weapons and discarded the empty magazines.

"This is Lance Berkley, son of Erik Berkley," Damian introduced the kid, "Lance, this is Fatso."

Lance waved, snickered a bit as the name Fatso was the guy’s description. Not difficult to remember.

"You are wondering kid why I am called Fatso?" Fatso asked. His voice was deep, full of bass, curled skin hairs evident on his arms, and intimidating for a kid like him.

"The two guys with me are Lanky, and Handsome," Fatso introduced.

Lance could determine right there and then who Lanky and Handsome were. The former was the guy with thin features, and tattoos filling his forearms, while the latter had a touch of fashion in the way he dressed. Or maybe Handsome had a body form like a fashion model.

It was apparent that they were ready to battle some Abominants, they had holstered not only one handgun but three of them. A chain of bullets heaved their belts, and two rifles hung on their opposite sides.

"What you lookin’ at, kiddo?" Lanky spoke. His hoarse voice matched his ugliness though even his face was obscured behind the mask. He had bulging eyes with bony cheek features.

"Give the kid a break, will yah!" Handsome interjected. His voice was gentle but with authority.

"You guys do not know Erik, do you?" Fatso asked his two comrades.

"Enlighten us, Fatso. This kid could be a waste of our time." Lanky spat.

"Erik is the hero to our cause," Fatso answered. "I will not elaborate here but we know your father."

Another compliment he heard for many years came from other people’s opinions.

The first was with Jefferson.

"Hero? Well, there are no heroes here kid, are there?" Lanky bullied.

"Enough, Lanky. This mission is priority one. Safeguard the first package and acquire the second package. No casualties as much as possible." Fatso reprimanded.

Lanky was silenced. It was as if Lanky was a sort of rebellious to whoever led them but his bullish behavior subsided. Handsome was silent though with friendly eyes. He had no hostility for the kid, at least.

"Why the names?" Lance asked.

"Well kid, we do not want to disclose our real names. Some of the outsiders have bounty on their heads. Wanted by the Corporation." Fatso explained. "Lanky, here, is a fugitive of the Corporation of robbery and murder. He does not hide it."

Lanky bowed sarcastically.

Lance only nodded. However, Lanky’s eyes were piercing towards him through the visors of his gas mask. Lance imagined him salivating as if the kid was his prey.

Abominant: Obsidian Scorpion

Category: Level 3

Origin type: Scorpion

Differentiation: Obsidian exoskeleton

Weapon: Razor-sharp Stinger, Shark-like teeth, poison

Habitat: City with tall structures

Characteristic: Fears light. Legs unable to climb slippery rocks.

Kills other Abominants within a mile radius

Jumps when it attacks. Sharp screech when it sees

a prey. High sense of smell.

Weakness: Head, Chest, and Median eye for body parts. Cold environment

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"If you can manage to hit the head with one shot, then it will die instantly," Handsome added, "But nobody can shoot the head without blasting its chest first."

"Have you experienced killing an Obsidian Scorpion before?" Damian asked.

"No. Not me. It was Fatso. He shared the information to the Outsiders about this creature." Calmly, Handsome replied.

Apparently, the database for the Abominants was a collected data gathering from the Outsiders and rebels and registered them online so everyone, between them and the rebels, could refer.

"You will know about the Abominants more when we get shelter," Handsome said to Lance as it was clear to them that the kid has a lot to question about.

"Luckily, we know everything about this creature." Handsome was interrupted as a thunderous and sudden noise emerged a few yards ahead of them.

The forward vehicle, the one Lanky and Fatso was driving, crashed to the high cliff beside the road and the Obsidian Scorpion’s feet choking the vehicle as they rolled together downhill.

It was somehow, the Obsidian Scorpion trekked the hill off-road, along the obscurity of the dead trees beyond tracks that they could detect, and pincered the drive path.

It ambushed them instead.

The creature apparently to have perched at low peaks along the curve and jumped to attack the first truck. It was the only sudden deduction that Lance could muster.

There were no screams as what happened was sudden. The shrieks of the creature were perceptible though and the sharp thumping of metal against rocks disturbed the deafening silence.

Until all noise was gone as the truck and the Scorpion was engulfed by the darkness of the chasm.

"No!" Handsome screamed, his composure was gone.