Steampunk CTs

In front of the vendor, Ori and I ate our snow cones. Ori ate her first one as quickly as possible and told me she got a searing headache seconds after devouring it whole. She got another one, but wearily took her time with it while Jack expressed himself.

“Do you guys think that my brother is doing okay?”

“Well, if the rumors are true, Anima should be doing their best to pacify him. Although, he was a feisty guy. He won’t be changed as easily.” Ori said.

“I see…all I can do is hope for the best that he decides to make that change, huh?”

“Yeah…” I said as the three of us let our silence be filled with the sounds of the crashing waves and Anna laughing maniacally while making a moat for the sand skyscraper. I then slapped his back and said “But no worries! I’m sure he’ll turn over a new leaf.

“I’ll make sure he has a home to return to. That’s why I wanted to talk to you guys. You said you wanted to create a paradise for parasites, right?”

Ori stopped eating her snow cone and looked over to Jack. “I wanted to ask you guys if I could join in on that. Maybe I could help fund zone four. Get a home there and build something that he could be proud of. It won’t be the exact same. It won’t bring anyone back, but at least he’ll have something.” Jack looked at the horizon as he said his wishes.

Honestly, Ori has been sending some of the allowance Mr. Terrance has been giving us back to zone four. She also crunched some numbers and within the first couple of years of us becoming CTs we could pay for some infrastructure improvements in the zone. We technically already laid the groundwork for our plans. But with a third hand, things would go by way quicker.

“Sure thing. I’ll let you in on the details when we meet up for class tomorrow.” Before I could agree, Ori said exactly what was on my mind.

“I seriously appreciate you guys for that.” He gave a slight smile and as he did, a dog began making its way toward us. I’ve never really been a dog person. One time when I was little, the kids and I were playing ball and kicked it into a neighbor’s yard. After losing at rock paper scissors, I was forced to go get it. Let’s just say it took a while for those scars to heal. Now whenever I see a dog do a remotely quick action, I tense up.

Ori on the other hand…

“Awww look how cute he is! Come here, boy!” Ori squatted down to the dog’s level and upon hearing her voice, the dog made a dash into her arms. As Ori gave the dog head rubs, her eyes lit up with elation at another realization. “Aren’t you the cutest! Look at your little CT uniform! You’re gonna stop the bad guys, aren’t you?”

I turned back around when I heard this and I couldn’t believe my eyes. This dog was seriously wearing a CT uniform. It was perfectly fitted for them too.

The dog started barking and paced back and forth between us and where they came from. “I think he wants us to follow him! Come on, guys!”

“O…kay?” Jack was puzzled, but that’s just because he’s never seen Ori interact with animals. If I told him this wasn’t the first time Ori indulged in an animal’s nonsense, would he believe me? I simply sighed at the thought and followed Ori and the dog.

When the dog finally brought us to their destination, we found a sight just as interesting as a dog with a CT uniform on. We found a human man, I’m assuming around Rono’s age, with black hair that went down to his shoulders and a scruffy beard. He also looked very unkempt and disheveled.

Oh. And probably the most important detail of all being that everything except for his head was submerged in the sand of the beach.

“Oh, hello there! I see that Bonnie finally found some people to help me!”

“Bonnie?! I didn’t know you were one of the girls! Sorry about that!” Ori gave Bonnie ear scratches as an apology, but the dog didn’t really seem bothered about the entire misunderstanding.

“I wonder why she singled you guys out of everyone though.” The guy pondered. I’m sure if he had a hand free to do so, he’d put it to his chin in thought.

“Maybe because we’re CTs? She somehow knew?” I posed the thought.

“Ohhhh you guys are CTs?! We’re CTs too! Well, CTs in training. But after the cross zone finals, we’ll be full-fledged members of the BCT. The name’s Leo Poliark. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Leo gave a wink. It would come off as rather charming if he didn’t look like a potted plant right now.

Jack asked, “How did this even happen to you? If people did this to you, we could probably report them to the police.”

“They probably wouldn’t help. This was completely consensual!”

“Huh?” Jack squinted his eyes as he tried to make sense of the situation.

“You see, there were these rich kids that were looking to make the most of their beach visit. They mistook me for a homeless guy and offered me money for them getting the opportunity to bury me.”

Sometimes people see the less fortunate and want to feel bigger than them, so they flash money in their face. And in almost every situation, those less fortunate people will take the money. After all, it could be the difference between a solid meal and a piece of bread for your food for the day. I embarrassed myself a couple of times when Ori and I first came here, but she quickly stopped me from doing that. “One of the only things we have left is our pride” Was something along the lines of what she said. So I completely understand why Leo would do something like this.

“How much did you get paid?” I asked.

“Oh, I didn’t get paid.”

…Huh?

“They dug the hole, I got in, they filled it up, and then they ran off. Bonnie tried chasing them, but they just fled into a store and dogs weren’t allowed, I guess.”

“Oh…” I had no words. This guy got thoroughly scammed. Out of nothing but pity for my fellow man, I got onto my knees, and started digging him out of his sandy prison. Jack shook his head and followed suit. As we did, Ori kept playing with the dog. She could at least help…

===

As the sun was beginning to set, Jack and I finally finished digging Leo out of the sand. As soon as he was able to, he climbed out of the sand and bowed profusely, thanking us for freeing him.

“It’s not a problem. Seriously.”

“So this is where you guys were.” Derris began walking over to us and noticed a bowing Leo and Ori playing with his dog. He simply ignored both anomalies and continued. “The Instructor asked me to fetch both of you. We’re getting ready to leave.”

“Yeah we’ll be right there. We were just digging this guy out of the ground since some kids came around and buried him there,” I said.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Only thing above ground was his head,” Jack shook his head with a smile just thinking about it.

“That’s the funniest shit I’ve ever heard of! Hey buddy! 1,000 Dol for you to go back in the hole and let me bury you!”

“1,000?!” Leo’s head sprung up as he rose to his feet. “Although, I am a man that does his best to learn from his mistakes. I need the money upfront, sir.” He held out his hand, but Bonnie immediately ran up and bit it, causing Leo to recoil in pain.

“ARGH Damn stupid dog—HEY QUIT IT!” Bonnie’s assault didn’t stop there. She bit at his legs, practically forcing Leo to run away from Derris. Smart move. If he was alone, he definitely would’ve taken that deal.

“Damn…I wanted to see a homeless guy buried, but that dog counter terrorist got in the way.”

“You’re surprisingly quick to accept a dog as a CT.” Ori said as she brushed the sand off of her body.

“My father told me stories of Dr. Archon being a rather eccentric man when it comes to stematas. He would give the worst criminals in the world stematas if it meant advancing the technology. A dog isn’t too far fetched.”

“Well, I’m tired. Let’s get moving, guys.” Jack yawned as he asked for Derris to lead the way.

As he did, I couldn’t help but think: this is the day before one of the most important weekends of our lives begins. Everything we’ve been training for has led to tomorrow. No…this is just a stepping stone. Ori and I will show Holia what parasites are made of!

Tomorrow! At the cross zone finals!