" WOOOW " Hayley yelled out as she hopped off the bus , several other kids stepping down onto the grass below .
Spires of wood and leaves rose high I to the air around them , many taller than the buildings of night city as soft sunlight fell between the foliage .
The once harsh gravel below was replaced by soft dirt , some sand and moisture mixed with leaves fallen to the ground .
" IVE NEVER SEEN TREES LIKE THIS BEFORE " Hayley yelled out in excitement, heedless of the mud under her foot .
" Beautiful " Leon , One of their caretakers uttered , Coming up beside Hayley to make sure she didn't get lost in her excitement .
Over the last year since new hope had seeded the badlands , the city had watched, anxious. Fearful even as two days after the seeding , full trees erupted from the ground , then died off in rapid succession over a week .
Millions of years of evolution occurred over six months as the genetically altered seeds would reach maturity within 24 hours. Spread their seed and die off to allow for another cycle.
With each new cycle , A new element was introduced or discarded as new trees rose and fell over days.
All the while night city watched , towering trees one night , stumps the next being consumed and replaced by their seedlings.
Within six months the trees had developed to perfectly match the environment. And after the seventh month , They stopped dying altogether, their rapid life cycle ceasing on the last cycle to allow for a full life to occur after they reached maturity . And so , One night , when night city had watched a first of trees one morning , they had expected then to be gone by morning. But when morning came , the trees remained ... alive ... thriving .
Many in night city took the time to scour the newly developed forest. The nomad clans that had inhabited had either packed up and left the newly grown forest , as no amount of resistance halted its growth, or they adapted , wanting to experience something new.
" Its beautiful " Hayley knelt down and scooped up a flower , It wasn't just trees the printer spewed out that day , but weeds , flowers , fungi .. anything necessary to create a full functioning tundra had been meticulously spewed out and placed by the printer .
" Can I keep it " The pink flower plucked from the forest floor , sprinkled with some dirt , Refused to die , Perhaps it could survive if given the nutrients as Hayley lifted the flower and presented it to her care giver .
" Of course , take care of it , it's fragile ... we'll put it in a vase when we get back to the orphanage " Leon gently guided Hayley back to the group at the bus , The rest of the group ready and eager to explore the forest they had finally gotten approval to go through .
" Everyone ready " Sarah... One of the orphanage caretakers smiled , A backpack slung over her shoulder as kids of all sizes races and ages wore different kinds of clothing , from bucket hats to hoodies, but they all had a backpack and a whistle.
" ALLRIGHT " Sarah cheered , Bringing out a paper map like the old times and immediately venturing off into the forest with the kids " LETS GOO "
For hours they spent the afternoon gallivanting around the lifeless forests , It would have been eery for anyone used to there being wildlife within the forests , but the ignorant were wholly unaware at how unsettling a dead silent forest could be .
" Come on stay close Hayley " Leon pulled the little blonde angel into step with the rest of the children as she studied the pink flower cupped in her hands lie it was the most precious jewel in the world .
" hmph " A deep breath escaped Leon's nose as he gently guided Hayley back on path once more .
The other children around all took their time looking at the soft sunlight flickering between the leaves , Analysing the bark underfoot or touching the harmless plants they were allowed to touch .
" And here we are " Sarah broke through a bunch of shrubs , Holding the children back from stepping forward as they appeared before a waterfall that fed leon couldn't wrap his head around how it was here.
' This ... wasn't on the map before ' Leon knew this shouldn't have been here , according to the map they were relatively close to the dam borders , yet there was nothing on the previous maps that hinted at there being any form of waterfall formation nor the small lake at its base.
Of course he had a suspicion , All of the badlands unmarked marvels were popping up within the newly made forests , Obviously new hope had done alittle more than just reseeding the badlands .
" one sec " Sarah reached down and dipped a toxicity measuring instrument into the dirt , Nodding to herself before raising back up .
" Alright ... who wants to go for a swim " Immediately after everyone's hands shot up , And none waited , Instead they all rushed towards the small lake .
Leon , About to continue on , noticed Hayley nervously glancing towards the lake , Shaking slightly . Turning back , he walked over and knelt down to her level .
" What's wrong " He reached up and gently moved a strand of her blonde hair out of her eye , With her leaning over and nervously whispering to him what was wrong .
" I can't swim " a Hayley's voice was but a soft whisper , yet Leon's lips curled up slightly as he let out a soft chuckle.
" Well ... no way to learn but to try ... want me to teach you " Leon smiled at her , despite her nervousness , how she refused to meet his eye , she none the less gave a small but obvious nod , A fierce determination in her eye .
For hours longer. They all laughed , frolicking in the lake and on the shoreline. Hayley and leon themselves spent hours teaching her how to swim , and she was a natural at it .
By the time it was sundown , They were back at the orphanage , running through the halls , even the new trouble maker kinochi had fun with the other kids.
Tucking the excited kids into their beds , leon , as the closest to the usually reserved Hayley, Set the vase with the pink flower on the table top , Not caring about the small amount of dirt that fell from the vase .
" Can we go again tomorrow " Hayley whispered after having being sung a sing before bed.
" Tell you what , You be a good girl and get a good sleep , I'll talk to the director and see if we can go " Leon lifted Hayley's blanket over her shoulders , The girl smiling and closing her eyes.
" I'll have a fast sleep " Hayley turned over and immediately fell asleep , Leon chuckling to himself , silently turning on the night light and stepping out of the room with several other children already falling asleep.
" You know ... you could just adopt her yourself " Sarah stood at the door to the room , having watched them all day , It was clear Hayley looked up to leon , yet it was leon that needed to be convinced .
Turning back to the bed Hayley was in , A looking of want , Yet fear appeared in his eyes . It wasn't a coincidence he was working at the orphanage , having a colourful past , in and out of jail most of his life , He was ordered to do community service after his last stint with the Valentino's.
" Whatever life I could give her ... she deserves better " Leon looked down and away , Scratching at the patch of skin the tattoo of the Valentino's used to be .
" Hey " Sarah reached over and gently turned him to face her " Don't sell yourself short ... life's to short to worry about semantics , just ... keep it on the back burner ... it's always an option "
" Thanks Sarah, You have a good night okay " Leon kept his head down as he slowly left the orphanage .
" See you tomorrow leon " A pair of other volunteers waved leon off as he exited through the front , Nodding in turn as he made his way to his bike parked nearby .
Hopping in his bike , He swiftly tore off towards the nearest fast food joint , overhead several AV passed , heading towards the mysterious NEW HOPE , locally dubbed the tower of dreams amidst the city of nightmares .
A harsh siren diverted traffic as he came up to an intersection , Traffic Halting as a pitch black new hope behemoth truck drove through the intersection , Guarded infront and behind by several security trucks .
" Huh " Wander what they're transporting there .
He dragged in a deep breath of air , A small smile coming to his face just as the lights returned to normal, Allowing him to drive through and towards buck a slice .
For the next half an hour , he ate the synthetic pizza he so hated , but compared to what other slop was made round these parts , it was somewhat manageable.
After dumping his trash in tbe nearby trash can, he doubled back the way he had come , Afterall he lived on the other side of the orphanage he had come from .
This time , travelling through the city was significantly easier now that new-hopes trucks had finished their delivery.
Pulling onto the orphanage road , He hummed a tune he had heard Hayley singing to herself after her morning classes , something about a man and a farm he didn't know, catchy tho .
Pulling past the orphanage. His bike suddenly perked to a halt as gunfire registered in his ears , His head Snapping towards the orphanage as flashes of light were visible within the windows .
" What the fuck " He didn't wait for his bike to come to a complete stop before jumping off and breaking into a dead sprint at the building, Gunfire still Erupting from within , And at this time of night , the streets were mostly empty , the Yells from within smothered by the tempered glass .
Leaping up the stairs , The noise was so much louder , more than one gun was obviously going off , With multiple assailants .
" GET THAT FUCKING TRAITOR " A lagging behind gang member growled , only barely Noticing the large man Tearing g through the foundations of the building , body checking him straight into the wall .
" YOU " Squashed against the wall , The gangmember felt the gun being wrestled from his hands , silencing his words as he instead chose to focus on losing control of his gun .
" Let ... " He tumbled to the floor ,leon ontop of him , Snapping the gang members arm to the side , releasing the gun before Grabbing it and releasing a single shot into the gang members head , splattering blood across the floor of the dining room .
He couldn't afford to linger however , As a tussle upstairs caused the ceiling above to thud , he rose and rushed through the building towards the stairs ,exploding into the next room . He raising his gun at a gang member distracted by the stairs , aiming his gun upwards .
He didn't have time to react ad leon emptied three rounds straight into the man's chin, Bodying him into the wall and bouncing up the stairs .
Landing in the second floor , Leon felt his blood run cold as a blood curtling scream echoed from the room the kids were in , followed immediately after by a rumbling explosion and a shaking of the floor .
' No....' Leon watched three Valentino's step out of the room , One sighing to himself , His hand falling to his side as he winced .
" Got that fucking snitch , Shame for the others though " Not entirely heartless , the gang member turned his head away from the sight. Yet ... his loyalty to the gang and their life meant more to him than those in that room .
" Let's get ... " He didn't get to say anything else as a bullet ripped through the front if his skull, Exploding the front of his head .
The other two with him fared little better from Leon's surprise attack , Holes riddling their bodies before Leon's gun clicked , empty if it's rounds .
Shakily... he lowered his gun , Tears already streaming down his cheeks as his old comrades bodies fell to the ground.
Hoping against the gods. Leon turned away from the Valentino's, Instead , he took a quiet , fearful step towards the bedroom .
And as soon as he stepped around the corner , his breath was robbed from his body .
His legs grew wobbly , Tears stung his eyes as he looked at the occupants within .
Standing at the centre of the room , Riddled and shredded with shrapnel , the newest volunteer lay dead on the ground , gun in hand . He had been transferred in earlier that week , After tattling on one of Valentino's operations he had been given community service, Obviously the Valentino's had something to say .
It was what was behind the body that robbed leon of his breath .
Infront of the children, Sarah and the three other workers lay over the bodies of the huddled children , A pile of legs and arms sticking out from the stack .
Sarah was at the front , Having taken the grenade head on , Her face had been burnt off , along with the majority of the front of her body .
The other adults had either sides of their heads burnt off , their close burnt as they had shielded the children as best as they could .
" Hello " His voice hoarse , He spotted blood slowly leaking from the pile , as he slowly reached stepped towards the pile .
' I ...I. I.. I have to see' He didn't waste time , Grabbing the still hot Sarah and gently placing her to the side, he began to slowly pull the bodies of the kids off the pile .
Many gunshots had struck vital areas on many of the children , Some having died right away .
Others suffered less but no less Lethal injuries , Mostly from the grade peppering those closest with shrapnel or burning them away in a doubtless painful death.
It was near the back of the pile that cuased leon to outright burst into tears , Shaking hands carefully reaching down and cradling the blonde girl in his arms.
A bullet to the side, Burns on her arms , The six year old girl in his arms was silent and still , her hands clutched against her chest .
" Hayley " Leon gently stroked her cheek " Please "
" Hayley " Yet she didn't respond , As he slouched over her , Tears burning their way down his face , Falling onto her cheeks .
The next moment ... a gunshot was the only warning leon revieved before everything went black .
As sirens blared in the distance , The last gang member fled , And as leon fell over Hayley, Her hands fell to the side , The pink flower she had been clutching against her chest with all her life falling from her grip .
....
52 hours later
....
A wheelchair was pushed through the doors of the hospital , The half lifeless leon staring blankly at the traffic infront of the hospital .
" The rest is up to you now leon ... try and ... yea " An old friend mumbled as she left him outside , stepping back into the hospital to continue her duties .
He didn't respond , Instead he stated ahead , He hadn't said anything since waking up in the hospital not ten hours earlier.
He was processed pretty quickly. They had removed the bullet from his back , but because of his coverage , he hadn't been given anything else but a wheelchair and discarded. Of course he had enquired about Hayley and the children , But they had been tight lipped. And after that... he didn't say anything else ... he didn't want to ... he didn't need to .
" Fffffph " A deep breath escaped his nose , His head hung low as he wheeled himself towards the NCART station .
...
[ Payment processed ] He stared up at the ceiling , having just sold his bike ... he obviously didn't need it any more.
His apartment was dimly lit , By a candle in the centre of the room since he hadn't made the electricity bill this month .
He curled his hand slightly , cradling the previous artefact in his hand as he dragged his hands towards towards the desk .
' Can I keep it ' He opened his ahnd and stared at the link flower in his grip .
Rasing the flower, Despite its wilting. Leon placed it on the table top , Using his hands as a pillow as he stared at it , A petal falling to the surface as it slowly died .
The silence was painful , And he wept himself to sleep .
...
NEXT DAY
...
Maine and pillar held a set of cards each , Glaring at eachother as they played a high stakes game of blackjack .
The new cyberware in their faces glinted under the sterile light above.
A chip sat Obviously in the sides of their heads , The cyberpsychosis Alpha program Sebastian had been working on going for a test run on Maine and his crew , so now they had been dumped with extra cyberware to test the limits of its ability.
And so now , A tank in human form sat infront of pillar , maine hadn't allowed the others to go heavy on the cyberware until he tested the limits of the Alpha program.
" twenty " Pillar slapped down two tens , Smirking victoriously at Maine as the larger man's felt his teeth grind together .
" YOU ... " Maine slammed his hands onto the bench , The cards scattering to the side just as the door to red rippers slid open, A man in a wheelchair rolling in as he propelled himself across the ground .
" Greetings , What can I help you with today " A new receptionist asked , Having taken over for tekeyoshi during his stay at new hope .
" I just ... need to see the doc , Don't worry I have the eddies " Leon voice was but a whisper , The dead glassy look in his eyes giving the receptionist pause .
" I'll page you in , Please continue in , Business is slow today so the doctor is ready for you now "
Nodding , Leon pushed himself forward, The receptionist walking around and opening the door for him to go through.
" Thank you " Leon uttered as he entered the sterile surgery room .
" You're welcome " The receptionist closed the door as Leon spotted the doctor.
" Hello , Names Ryan what can I help you with " Turning to face Leon, Rn01's face twitched slightly , Already accessing Leon's files .
" Do you have anything that'll help with ... reaction time , shooting and I don't know , smart weapons or something ... " He wasn't exactly the most chromed out individual so he didn't know what he was looking for . But the smile on Ryan's face gave him the answer he wanted .
" Of course , we're red rippers , we make everything , would you like some assistance " Ryan gestured to the surgery chair.
" I'll be fine " He rolled to the side of the chair , Reaching up , mustering up all hsi strength to rise from their chair and drag himself I to the surgery chair.
Settling down in the chair , Leon looked around nervously as Ryan approached with a mask in hand " So Ah... what next "
" Next ... you rest ... and leave the rest to me " Ryan raised a mask to Leon's face , Once more , for the second time in three days , everything went black .
...
Rolling out of the surgery , Leon moved to the front counter I'm reception .
" Satisified with your service today " The woman asked as she typed away at the desk , bringing up Leon's file and storing it away.
" Very ... how much " Leon asked , Raising and Grabbing the payment processor , ready to transfer his eddies.
" You don't have to worry about payment this time ser " The receptionist gave him an eye smile , The pad infront of leon showing a ninety nine percent discount , he made to say something but was simply waved off by the receptionist , the girl refusing to say anything else about it " Have a good day ser "
" I... thank you " Wasn't going to be much of a day ... but he'd make what he could of it .
Turning his wheelchair. Leon rolled out of the clinic , all the while Maine and pillar watched the cripple leave before returning to their game .
...
" I want everything I can get with this , and ammo " While it wasn't much, Leon transferred everything he had but 200 eddies to the gun store owner , who smiled slightly.
" Of course we can hook you up right now "
...
HEYWOOD
...
" Watch it cunt "An angry man pushed past leon as he rolled through his old turf , Yet leon didn't say anything to the man , Instead a burning determination dragged him forward , A single minded purpose pushed him forward .
Turning into an alley , Leon rolled down a slope towards a valentino leaning on the Wall and smoking a joint.
" Holy ... Leon " Diego took half a step back as Leon rolled to a stop infront of his old childhood friend " Definitely wasn't expecting you to come by "
" Hey Diego... " Leon looked up , Memorising perhaps his oldest friends face .
" I heard about what happened ... they he ... " Diego began , mentioning another friend of theirs from long ago, The first to join the valentinos in their little cliche " Trey didn't mean it man , He mistook yoy for the guy that took out our guys at the orphanage "
" Where is trey by the way " Leon asked Diego, The Valentino looking at leon with a raised eyebrow .
" Reporting in ... they got a meeting in la catrina, Had to be bandaged up before he reports back in about the op " Diego had a suspicion about what leon was after , But he wasn't the most loyal member , His loyalty lay with those he was closest to , And as much as it hurt him to see leon confined to a wheelchair , He had to let it be. This was up to leon and leon alone.
" Hey leon ... " Leon paused at the call , Turning his head slightly to look back at his friend .
" I'm sorry... I know what it all meant to you " Diego mumbled , Tearing his eyes away from leon not a moment later .
" So am I... "
... LA CATRINA ...
Rolling through the front door , Leon greeted many of the old gang members he grew up around .
" Hey leon , I'll pray for you " gabby spoke as she left with three other members .
" I need to go out the back " Usually someone from the gang who got out wouldn't be allowed out back especially into their more sensitive areas , but he hadn't betrayed them , Not that they were aware of . Infact he had taken the fall for one of their brothers .
" Go ahead leon ... stay safe Alright " Luis opened the door to allow leon forward .
Rolling through the corridor , Leon made his way to the elevator , Clicking the basement button as he adjusted the coat he wore , His hand coming to touch the cross on his neck absent-mindedly.
Before long , the elevator doors opened , and leon made his way through to the meeting place of trey and the Valentino Leuitenants .
" Hold on a minute. What are ... " The Leuitenants voice died in his throat as he saw leon roll in , trey groaning and turning to see who was interrupting them , Only to freeze .
" Leon " Whilst as of late they hadn't been particularly close , they had been friends for years , Decades .
" Fuck leon " Trey didn't worry about the meeting , Instead he walked forward and crouched at Leon's feet , Placing his head on Leon's knees and beginning to weep .
" I'm so sorry leon , If I'd known I wouldn't have done that , I ... I thought you were the one that killed them ... I " Trey cried into Leon's legs , As leon himself placed a hand on try's head.
" Its okay trey , The lord forgives ... and so do I " Leon whispered , And for three minutes trey cried into what he considered to be his brother , all the while the Leuitenants patiently waited.
After some time , Trey raised his head , slowly rising while Rubbing his eyes.
" Th... thank you . How about after this I go take you to our old hang out , we can get something to eat " Trey asleep, Lips quivering slightly as leon nodded .
" I'd like that " Leon nodded , And as trey turned to face the leuitenants , Leon closed his eyes and let out a deep breath .
He wasn't here for trey , What he was after was the best behind him , It was just a coincidence that trey had been in on the op ... but leon had already steeled his heart .
With an intake of air , as trey made to step away , he activated his cyberware as soon as trey blocked the him from view of the other valentinos .
For a split second , His arms blurred , His hand Erupting from the coat he wore , Two smart machine guns burst from underneath .
Trey and the others didn't have time to react as a hail of bullets erupted from Leon's guns , Bursting through trey and continuing on through to his targets .
By the time trey fell , Holes the size of golf balls littered his stomach and Torso, And the gangmembers behind .. mincemeat .
The smoking barrel of his gun was slowly lowered as trey crumpled to the ground . The guns coming to rest gently on his useless legs .
He didn't cry. He didn't feel anything as he stared down at the six bodies of the Valentino's he grew up with laying on the ground .
Closing his eyes , He reached into his jacket and pulled out a glass cube , within, the pink flower sat , frozen in plastic for eternity.
" Its done now child ... I'll be joining you soon " Leon raised his smart gun to his mouth , The cold muzzle hard on his teeth as a tear slid down his cheeks .
" Is that it " He froze , The iron in his mouth freezing as his eyes shot up to look at the origin of the voice " Is this all your resolve leads too "
Walking into the den , robe billowing behind him , Legs clearing exactly a metre with each step , His footfalls squelching with every step .
Approaching the man in the wheelchair , Apollo looked down , Standing over the cripple , Mask staring down Into the man's eyes .
" You think they were the only ones " Apollo reached up , Grabbing the gun from his shaking hands .
" That there won't be other kids taken , Other doctors gunned down in one last stand to protect ... " Apollo knelt down , Coming to eye level .
" Do you think that all ends here , That nobody else will suffer after you would that trigger "
" What am I supposed to do " Lips quivering , he knew it wouldn't end here , that it wouldn't ever stop , but he was just one man ... half a man at that " I'm alone , I've got no one... nothing I don't even have legs , What am I suppose to do "
Apollo didn't immediately respond , Instead he knelt , Staring silently as if in thought for several long seconds .
" You could " Apollo began after several long seconds of dead silence , hands reaching up to the sides of his mask .
A series of snaps and clicks followed by hisses escaped the helmet as the top disengaged from the bottom jaw ridge.
Peeling away the top of his helmet , Leon's eyes widened in open mouthed surprise as tufts of hair fell from the helmet as it was lifted away .
A face ... recognisable across the city , The face of a man whom was held in high regard , helped those in need from thehighest life to the lowest bum , a man who's whim changed the very landscape around night city over night. A man none would have expected to be below the helmet.
Lips curved upwards in a small , kind smile graced leon . Sebastian and Leon stared at eachother , one smiling. The other confused , Lips quivering .
Placing the top of his helmet down onto the ground despite the blood spill below , Sebastian offered one hand , upturned in a gesture for leon to take .
" Come with me ... Together... we can prevent that tragedy from every happening again , together ... we can save not just night city ... but the world "
Leon stated down at the hand offered to him , It wasn't about choice, Instead he simply stared, nothing but ringing in his ears accompanying him.
Slowly , he reached forward, gulping and taking Apollo's hand with a weak but resolute grip .
" You made the right choice "
Sebastian stood , rounded and circled leon , helmet back in place as he grabbed the back of the wheelchair and began to push , behind them , the blaze started , sweeping out viciously in all directions to swallow up and evidence that leon had done what he did.
" Let's go perform a miracle " Apollo rasped as flames kicked the ceiling behind them , Gesturing down at Leon's legs , Neither of then caring in the slightest about the scene behind them .
And as they left la catrina,bodies littered the joint , blood splattered everywhere in all directions , And as theywalked through the front door , and explosion rocked the building behind them as they left.
Leon slumped into the wheelchair , a single ... lone ... last ... tear rolling down his cheek .
CHAPTER COMPLETE
I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS SMALL CHAPTER , INTRODUCING A NEW ELEMENT WITH A SMALL TIMESKIP .
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO PICK UP AGAIN IN THE STORY.
I HOPR YOU GUYS HAVE ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER , IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR A REVIEW I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU GUYS SO PLEASE ALL THE SUPPORT IS MORE THAN WELCOME
UNTIL NEXT TIME