"Pfft... No!" Chris responded, almost immediately. The punch was a friendly one, in the upper arm, dangerously close to his bolt wound, somehow she found a way not to make it hurt too bad. "Ahhh.... busted," He said, rubbing his arm. " I've always hated Polar bears. When I was little, attending grade school, a polar bear used to beat me up and take my lunch money everyda--" She punched him again, in the exact same spot, this time a little harder. "Oww," He said, "Enough!... yes, yes i'm scared of polar bears." He quickly turned around to make sure none of the other passengers were listening, and that Gaston was still unconscious. No one seemed to be paying attention. He turned back to Eve. "Okay, let's make this interesting. Tell me something about yourself that you've never told anyone before, something you don't want anyone to know." he said as he cocked an eyebrow.
"Okay, let's make this interesting. Tell me something about yourself that you've never told anyone before, something you don't want anyone to know." He said to her. Eve held her breath for a moment, she should have known better then to play this game with him. “Okay…let me think.” she frowned. She could tell him about her obsession with blood and the way it ran, or the way it fascinated her just to watch an animal die. Then there was the way Orlocks spoke to her on her past the fact she didn’t remember it or how scared it made her when a memory was dragged up. She decided to go with something a little lighter. He wouldn’t pry anyway would he? “I‘ve had suppressive therapy on my memory, I‘ve been told there is nothing I‘d want to remember. I‘m not sure why they say that. Every now and again a memory will surface. In fact today I think I remembered a memory of my mother…” She stared at the road and tried to keep her face serious something she had been practicing a lot of late. She couldn’t wait to get to Elwood to find a quiet corner and curl up splay her arm wide open and watch the blood dribble out.
That wasn't the answer Chris had expected, usually when he played these types of games, girls would tell him about the time they'd gone to church without any panties on. That's one of the things he respected about Eve, she was anything but ordinary. "So, like... your whole memory? Even your childhood?" The more Chris thought about it, the angrier he became. "That's monstrous Eve. I mean i know some lives are ****tier than others but you can't just erase a person's past, that's like, that's like hitting delete on someone's brain. How does it feel to walk around and not know who you are... I mean who you truly are?" Chris realized that he was letting his thoughts fly before he could analyze the damage they might do, once said aloud. It was a problem Arthur often had to correct, back when they were just 2 ordinary subterranean Roughnecks. "I'm sorry Eve, I didn't mean... " He put his hand on her shoulder. " I can't imagine what it must be like to not have a past, or to have one so horrible that it had to be erased." Chris tried to lighten the mood. "At least you remembered something of your Mother, what was she like?"
"So, like... your whole memory? Even your childhood? That's monstrous Eve. I mean i know some lives are ****tier than others but you can't just erase a person's past, that's like, that's like hitting delete on someone's brain. How does it feel to walk around and not know who you are... I mean who you truly are?" Chris asked her. “Honestly Chris, some of the things that have come back to me make me glad I don‘ know. Then there are those times. When I want a family and people I‘ve known all my life. I want reasons for some of the things I do…” "I'm sorry Eve, I didn't mean... " He put his hand on her shoulder. " I can't imagine what it must be like to not have a past, or to have one so horrible that it had to be erased." Chris tried to lighten the mood. "At least you remembered something of your Mother, what was she like?" Eve went pale at those words, she had always prided herself on not lying so she continued even though it was beginning to hurt the hardened façade she’d been playing. “She was pale, frozen…at least she was smiling. I get the feeling she never smiled much…Then there was this crying sound.”
Chris's stomach sank, he was forcing her to re-live horrible things, things she wanted to forget. The blank, stony visage she always seemed to maintain was beginning to melt away and although there were no tears, he could see the pain in her eyes. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay, but he couldn't. He placed his hand over hers, on the steering wheel, and made a silent oath, never to play the "truth" game ever again. "I-I don't know what to say Eve. I'm sorry about your mom, about your life in general..." There was a long silence, until Chris' coping mechanism --humor-- kicked in. "Maybe you should just ask me all the questions from here on out."
"Maybe you should just ask me all the questions from here on out." Chris said. She managed a warm smile, “Oh I‘d be careful what you wish for. Hmm let me think.” She let her face settle back into its empty look “Well you know something I‘ve never told anyone now, so how about you what‘s your big secret. Other then the polar bears.”
“Well you know something I‘ve never told anyone now, so how about you what‘s your big secret. Other than the polar bears.” Chris sighed, he only had one secret, a secret he'd hoped to die with. There was a long silence. He knew how hard it must've been for her to speak of her past, or lack thereof. He owed it to her to do the same, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. He didn't want her to see him, the way he saw himself. "I'm sorry Eve." He said as he left his seat. " I think we should stop this. If you need me i'll be on the 50, ready to pop a cap in a polar bear if it gets too close." He stepped over gaston, popped his head out of the hatch and manned the gun. Tears streamed down his face.
Eve hung her head for a moment, she hadn’t wanted to hurt him. “Stupid f****** truck,” she slammed her hands down on the wheel. She couldn't even speak with him. Crying…she frowned as a face revived its self in her mind, a man a kind one she liked him. He was fatherly but there was something primal about him the way he moved. She gave a faint smile. She thought of Chris for a moment, it wasn’t the same kind of like. Chris was a little more and he didn’t strike a “fatherly” feeling with in her. He demanded and received her full attention without needing words that was different. She flushed and sunk down in her seat a little swearing as she did, she had realised it but she fancied Chris.
Drake was still not satisfied. He was unable to look through the thick fog. He just hoped they would be safe until they reach the Train Station. He went to the last seat where his rocket launcher and rifle lay. He picked the rifle and hung the rocket launcher on his back. He wanted to be ready for anything.
Leaning against the window of the truck, He could see them passing a family of polar bears all grouped up together; releasing a sigh at the sight of them. He had never known his parents, they had been murdered. Silent tears began to roll down Stewards cheeks, his grandfather’s words still rang in his head 'Ye mother n father n yeself were on ye way te visit me....... ye we ambushed by Velidians n well ye ken only guess what appened lad.......... I came out de next day te see if I could see ye's......... I found de vehicle we destroyed n I found ye crying in da snow ' Steward looked at the front of the convoy and could see Eve and Chris talking. He lay down on one of the blankets and shut his eyes, Images ran through his head of his childhood “Lewis, Hide quickly! …..Whatever you do don’t move, do you listen!” the young boy nodded, tears rolling thick and fast down his face. The old man had grabbed a hunting rifle and ran straight through the door “GRANDDAD! NOOOOOO” screamed the boy; the shout was drowned away by the sounds of gun shots. He lay curled up inside a wardrobe. The front door slammed against the wall followed by heavy footsteps “g-g-g granddad, is that y-you?” the footsteps froze. The young boy could hear somebody whispering, more footsteps were heard coming in through the door. “Come on, let’s go! Mirezh leave the child!!” the voice was soft but stern “WHAT! It’s English we might as well have a bit of fun while we’re here” said a deep voice followed by a wheezy laugh “here kiddie, kiddie…. I know you’re here” The footsteps could be heard getting closer “Playing games are we? I have a game that I think you will like better! – it’s called when I find you I’m going to tear and cut you and wear your soft, silky skin” the deep icy voice released another wheezy rasp “MIREZH STOP THIS AT ONCE!!” the women’s voice roared at the man. The air was filled with a ‘CRACK’ followed by a whimper “Watch your tone with me sl*t” “It’s people like you that give Reavers a bad name!!” said the unknown women her voice was filled with anger, suddenly the table was overturned followed by another ‘CRACK’ something heavy hitting the floor, the man released a scream of pain “ARGHHHH….. YOU F*CKING WH*RE I WILL TEACH YOU TO BITE ME!” the women screamed back “JUST LEAVE THE CHILD, YOU ANIMAL!!” the man raise the knife clenched in his hand and slashed the women across the face. “Now where was I?..... ah yes, child you are testing my patience” the man began over turning and smashing anything he could. Lewis shook with fear, tears still rolling down his face, the sound of the smashing objects made him gasp with fright the man suddenly stopped and moved towards the wardrobe “BOO” the dismantled face appeared at the door of the young boys hiding place “ARRGHHHHHHH” screamed the boy trying to kick the monster, it just stood there laughing. Lewis felt a hand grab his hair and begin picking him up, the boy wailed from pain, kicking and punching what ever he could. The monster placed his nose to the neck of the young boy taking large whiffs “Mmmmm, don’t you smell lovely” The women picked herself up and took out a knife, standing just a few inches away from the man she drove the knife deep into the mans neck, eyes bulged and the boy fell to the ground with a ‘thud’ blood began pouring from his head. The women had pulled the knife out of the mans neck and pushed his body to one side. Placing a hand to Lewis’s cheek “Don’t worry little one, everything’s going to be just fine” * She raised him till the age of 8 and decided she should take him to the nearest English Colony Steward tossed and turned in his blanket “NOOOO! KAZLIA, PLEEEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!!!”
“NOOOO! KAZLIA, PLEEEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!!!” Steward had screamed. Eve jerked her head upwards in shock. Had she almost gone to sleep behind the wheel? Her heart hammering in her chest she turned in her seat to look at Lewis. “Lewis you okay?” she asked before turning back to look at the road, she allowed herself small glances in the review at Steward who looked ruffled.
"Lewis you okay?" Steward sat up and saw Eve looking at him. "Yea, i'm fine" he tried to sound calm "just a bad dream.... thats all" He made a forced smile. Placing a hand to his forehead he felt cold sweat running down. Taking a quick glance out of the window he stood up and placed himself in the passenger seat. "Where are we? and where is convoy 1? he sat there stairing out into the window the icy air whipped at his face causing hairs to stand on end "You ok? you look knackered, i reckon you should get some sleep.... i'm sure Chris or me could drive this beast, maybe not as good as you but abit of sleep will do you abit of good" he smiled at her
"Where are we? and where is convoy 1? You ok? you look knackered, I reckon you should get some sleep.... I’m sure Chris or me could drive this beast, maybe not as good as you but a bit of sleep will do you a bit of good" Lewis said to Eve. Eve shrugged, “we got split up, with the other trucks its nothing to worry about though. Don’t worry about me by the way I’m made for driving these trucks I’ll be fine. When we get to the station I‘ll sleep.”
Drake tried looking out of the window but to no avail. He put his rocket launcher on the table and moved towards the fridge. He opened it and picked a roll of sausages and started munching them. He was hungry and he thought he needed some food.
Helena was so fucused on the slow crawl of the truck that she couldn't rememebr the last time she had eaten or had something to drink. "Drake, you wanna pass me one of those?" Helena was feeling the strain of long hours of driving without the break. She knew that if she stopped driving, even for a little while, that she would never catch up to the rest of the convoy. It was becoming increasingly difficult to see. She could only contiunue to drive and hope that they wouldn't encounter any obstacles. With only Drake and herself, she wasn't sure what they could do in the event of an ambush or obstacle in the road. Drake tossed her a sausage. Morosely, she bit in without taking her eyes off the road. It was up to her to get them both to safety. SHe took her job seriously.
Gask slammed his fist down hard onto the wheel and muttered a few obscenities under his breath. The truth was Gask was completely lost. He hated to admit it to himself but it was true. Trying to navigate via the instrument panel had proven a monumental failure and resulted in Gask almost driving himself and Sadie over the edge of a rather daunting cliff. "Well," Gask began as he slowed the vehicle to a halt. "I'm hungry and we are gonna get any more behind that we already are. So its dinner time."
Bounce-bounce, catch. Bounce-bounce, catch. Bounce-bounce, catch. Bounce-bounce... "Crap." The rubber ball ricocheted around the inside of the carrier. Omar couldn't even tell where it ended up. Damnit, that bloody ball was the one thing keeping him sane over the last four hours. He couldn't take this anymore. "Bugger this," he complained loudly, "I haven't eaten anything in over a day, I can't sleep a wink with that damn engine roaring, there's nothing to do -- not even a boardgame or a deck of cards -- and it's getting colder by the minute. At this rate, our inevitable deaths will be a welcome relief! Y'know what, Eve, let's just turn this truck around and go home. **** Hawke! He's probably dead already, toppled over a cliff or something."
"Bugger this," the Doc grumbled, "I haven't eaten anything in over a day, I can't sleep a wink with that damn engine roaring, there's nothing to do -- not even a board game or a deck of cards -- and it's getting colder by the minute. At this rate, our inevitable deaths will be a welcome relief! Y'know what, Eve, let's just turn this truck around and go home. **** Hawke! He's probably dead already, toppled over a cliff or something." Eve’s eyes narrowed, this was hard on all of them, however the Doc voicing his opinions annoyed her. “Doc harden the f*** up,” she said. “Everyone else feels the same way. Complaining isn‘t going to get you anywhere. Even if I wanted to I can‘t turn around up here. We‘re all cold we‘ve all had enough and no doubt most of us want to go home.” Eve sighed and continued to watch the sweeping road.
“Doc harden the f*** up...” Omar flushed. "Don't get snippy with me, young lady. I could stick that bolt right back into your shoulder." The doctor knew he wasn't being fair to the girl, but he was too tired and miserable to keep it inside any longer. He needed to feel like something was being accomplished. "Chris, right? You're a Roughneck, right? Can't you tinker around and boost the radio signal so we could contact Hawke? Find out where he is? Whether he's still alive, or died when the bridge collapsed? I think it's something we ought to know before we continue..."
"Don't get snippy with me, young lady. I could stick that bolt right back into your shoulder." The doc had said before speaking with Chris. Eve felt like she was going to explode. She stopped the truck by roughly applying the brakes and climbed down. “I could always leave you out here in the snow too,” she snapped before stomping away from the truck. She knew it was childish to brood and generally she could get around social problems a little better then she just had. Today just wasn’t a good day for it. She figured walking away from the truck was better then giving the doc an upper cut because she needed some way to let her tension go.
Sadie arched an eyebrow, amused, as Gask slammed a fist down on the steering wheel and vented his frustration with a string of swear words that would have made a sailor blush. Sadie was close to blushing herself and she wasn’t exactly known for her clean language. The Orlocks’ ability to navigate in the harshest weather conditions was famous, so Sadie guessed that the cause of Gask’s angst was that they were lost even by his standards. And who said we weren’t going to have fun on this little trip? she thought sardonically. An image of the half-buried trucks sprung to the forefront of her mind, and she had to remind herself again to stay calm. “Well,” Gask’s voice distracted her. She looked round and realised he was drawing the truck to a halt. “I’m hungry and we aren’t gonna get any more behind than we already are. So it’s dinner time.” Sadie’s mouth twitched up into a lopsided smile. “Yes, sir,” she replied with a mock salute, then reached over into the back of the truck. She pulled out two pack of freeze-dried food, tossed one to Gask and kept the other for herself. “So,” she said as she leant back into her seat and pulled the plastic wrapping off. “Would it be too much to hope for for a bit of light conversation while we eat?”
Mika shuffled her feet to keep warm, her gloved hands feeling clumsy on the shotgun. The Orlock and the Roughneck were busy a few feet away, tinkering with the truck, and Spencer and Hawke had not returned since the shot. She was glad for the parka, snowshades, and other clothing that protected her from the cold but even with that she knew they couldn't last out here for a long time. And she didn't know what was happening. What if they were under attack? What did the shooting mean? She felt tension seeping up her shoulders and neck as her eyes swept the snow in all directions, coming back to the direction of the tunnel mouth over and over.
Gask caught the pack in one hand and tore it open, giving a slight frown to its contents before shrugging and getting to work on the "food". “So,” Sadie said as she leant back into her seat and pulled the plastic wrapping off. “Would it be too much to hope for for a bit of light conversation while we eat?” Gask gave a half smile. "Probably wouldn't be to much to hope for, but you should know that if you hope for anything out here you will probably just be disappointed."
Sadie cocked her head to one side and considered Gask for a few moments as she chewed the dry, tasteless meal. She was remembering what he’d said about his past at the beginning of his journey – watching his family tortured and killed, and then taken by the Reavers. She wondered if his cryptic remark meant he was thinking about it too. Then she swallowed and grinned again with a humour she only half felt. “That wasn’t quite what I had in mind by ‘light’ conversation. I was thinking more along the lines of that all-important question, boxers or briefs? Or, I dunno, your favourite Dickens book or something.”
“That wasn’t quite what I had in mind by ‘light’ conversation. I was thinking more along the lines of that all-important question, boxers or briefs? Or, I dunno, your favourite Dickens book or something,” said Sadie with a humor that her eyes said she didn't really feel. Gask wondered briefly what she must think of him; that he was cold and uncaring, overly severe at time, smoked to much. He couldn't really blame her though. There wasn't any way for her to understand what had happened to him. "Thermals actually...its much to cold for boxers or briefs."
