It was morning, and the villagers were busy rebuilding after the attack. Some of them glanced at Varryance curiously, a few even offering smiles. Mercy trailed behind him, like a persistent fly.

  "How's it going?" Mercy finally decided to speak up, revealing she had been quietly following him for a while.

  "It's alright. People here really don't have any manners," Varryance muttered, clearly irritated.

  "Yeah, well, get used to it. Like I said, they're not used to someone being... nice. Who knows? Maybe you'll make a difference around here."

  "Highly doubt it, Merc." Varryance didn't seem convinced.

  "Merc?" Mercy asked, brows furrowed. "Is that a new nickname, or...?"

  "Yeah, not sure why I said that." Varryance shrugged, dismissing it. Before Mercy could say more, a villager hurried over to them.

  "Varryance Preez! The mayor wants to see you. It's important!" The villager was out of breath, clearly urgent.

  "And I'm guessing the mayor's at that house hanging off the side of the mountain?" Varryance asked, already knowing the answer.

  "Yes, sir!" the villager confirmed.

  Varryance looked at Mercy and raised an eyebrow. "Come with?"

  "Eh, why not?" Mercy shrugged, walking alongside him as they made their way to the mountain. The village clung to the edge of a towering cliff, watchtowers dotting both the mountain face and the man-made metal walls that protected it. Wooden ramps led up to the mayor's hut, which dangled precariously on the mountainside.

  Upon arriving, Varryance knocked on the metal door. It opened almost immediately.

  "Mr. Preez and Ms. Finley! Please, come in. I've been wanting to talk to you both since the attack!" the mayor greeted them with a warm smile. Varryance blinked at the mention of Mercy's surname, but quickly realized it wasn't unusual for people here to know his own.

  "Ms. Finley..." he muttered under his breath, before Mercy pulled him into a hug. The mayor led them inside, where a couple of couches overlooked the village below.

  "First off, Mercy, you're a damn good shot. And Varryance, I've got to say, you've got some impressive instincts. You went headfirst into the attack like it was nothing. That's the kind of spirit we need around here." The mayor spoke with an odd, almost rehearsed tone, his words overly charismatic.

  "Yeah, well, it's the least I could do after you saved me," Varryance replied, his voice flat. Mercy couldn't help but smile at the comment, though the mayor took the chance to segue into something more serious.

  "If that's true, then we could use more of your help... There's been a serious infestation problem..." The mayor's tone shifted, now more serious as he leaned forward, sensing Varryance's attention. Varryance mirrored him, leaning in as well, his posture stiff.

  "Our village has been dealing with these mass horde invasions. At least once a week, they come, killing my people. I've sent squads to clear them out, but they keep coming back. You two seem skilled. Maybe you could help? I'll pay you for your efforts."

  Mercy glanced at Varryance, her eyes widening at the mention of payment, but Varryance, ever the skeptic, wasn't as excited. He glanced back at her, knowing he couldn't just stand around, especially since he knew little about the wasteland.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  "Sure. How and when do we start?" Varryance agreed reluctantly.

  The mayor's face lit up with excitement. "Today, actually. I'll send a message to the weapon warehouse for equipment and send a squad to follow you. I can't just send you out there alone."

  "I'll guide him to the warehouse. Where exactly are these hordes?" Mercy asked, her voice more focused.

  "Ah, yes! SAM will give you the specifics. I spoke with her before bringing you two up here," the mayor said, standing up as they prepared to leave. He paused, however, adding one final, serious note.

  "Oh, and whatever you do... do NOT engage with a Barge horde. I don't want them planning an attack on us."

  "Barge?" Varryance asked, the word unfamiliar to him.

  "The Barge... they're like you. Controlled by the Neuro, though some are still... sane. Some aren't. They're dangerous. Don't go near them."

  Varryance fell silent, mulling over the information as they left the mayor's hut and headed down the mountain, side by side.

  "So, the Barge... how do they act? Sane or not?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Mercy glanced at him, the wind picking up as sand swirled around them. "There are two types. Those who are sane are faster, stronger, smarter than us. They run the biggest trading camp up north-called 'The Barge'-but the others... the ones who aren't sane... they're just like you'd imagine. Dangerous, fast, and not easy to kill. Some travel in hordes, others are lone wolves."

  Varryance absorbed her words as they continued their walk, the village stretching out beneath them. The wind picked up speed, sand swirling around their feet.

  "Very hard to kill," Mercy continued. "You can tear their limbs off, and they'll still try to kill you. Technically, you're like them-well, a sane one."

  "Doesn't 'Barge' mean a boat or something?" Varryance asked, confused by the name.

  "Yeah, it does. The trading camp is on a boat, north of here. That's why they're called the Barge. They isolated themselves after the purge."

  "Purge?"

  "The purge happened when people found out about the Barge. Trusting someone who can be sane one day and insane the next was too risky. They started wiping them out."

  "And yet you trust me?" Varryance raised an eyebrow, unsure of her answer.

  Mercy hesitated, an eerie tone slipping into her voice. "Hard question... but I don't know." They continued walking, making their way to the weapon warehouse, where they could hear gunshots from the outside.

  Inside, it was chaotic. Mercy winced at the noise, covering her ears, but Varryance barely seemed to notice. He was too focused on what lay ahead.

  "I'll let you meet SAM," Mercy shouted over the noise, "I want to see your reaction when you meet her."

  Varryance turned to her, intrigued. "How so? Is she pretty?"

  Before Mercy could answer, a robotic voice interrupted.

  "Yes, indeed I am!"

  Varryance spun around to see the source of the voice-a massive, imposing robot. It stood seven feet tall, its metallic skin gleaming. No eyes, no face, but the body was unmistakably female. It had clawed hands and feet, but despite its destructive purpose, it had an oddly flirty tone.

  "Well, look at this cutie! Who are you, hm?" the robot said, its voice playful, even charming.

  Varryance recognized her immediately. "I'm Varryance. And you are... AR-B45, but I'm guessing I won't be calling you that, huh?"

  "That name disgusts me. Call me SAM, or Sentry Assault Machine. Your choice," the robot responded, a surprisingly sultry edge to its voice.

  "I heard you two are going hunting, eh?" SAM asked as she grabbed both of them by the hand.

  "Yep," they replied in unison.

  "Well, you've come to the right place! Follow me!" SAM said, leading them through the warehouse.

  The shelves were stacked with all kinds of weapons, from old NATO rifles to German laser guns from the 3rd Great War. Varryance paused at an infantry nuke launcher, his eyes lingering on the massive weapon.

  "No, no, that's way too big for you," SAM said, reading his mind. "Maybe if you show me your worth, I'll consider giving it to you. But for now, follow me!"

  Varryance's dream of using one of those rifles, a relic of his military past, was dashed. He followed SAM as she led them to a table stacked with weapons and equipment.

  "Take whatever you need, but return it when you're done," SAM instructed. "Oh, and don't forget a gas mask and some protection. The zombies leave spores behind. Don't know if they're harmful, but better safe than sorry. Their den is filled with them."

  Varryance quickly filled a backpack with weapons, explosives, and supplies: a German-issued laser weapon, a M1911, a bandolier of explosives, and several boxes of ammo.

  "Done!" Varryance said, looking like a one-man demolition team, ready for whatever lay ahead.

  SAM smirked, watching them go