Jack sprinted full tilt as he built up distance between him and the tank. After a bought half an hour of running at full speed his breath had become ragged, and ducked into a bombed out building in an old neighborhood that seemed abandoned. Gasping for breath inside his helm, he peeked out side and did not see any sign of the tank.
Amit had run into the building earlier, panting as he sat there. He sat there in a corner, holding the plushie as close as he could. Shivering at the sounds around him of the violence around him. The collar beeped as it helped repressed anything from getting worse. When Jack had entered the building, he didn't notice that anyone entering. A loud boom went through the air as a bomb went off elsewhere but near enough to hear it.
A cry would catch Jack's attention as Amit screamed out. Tears forming in his eyes as he squeezed the plushie of his Companion closer to him. Shaking as he sat there.
Jack's nerves on edge from running from a tank, nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the cry. "Calm down kid we're safe here, the fighting is way off over in the next district." he said taking the kids appearance in as he continued to catch his breath, which had been set back by the sudden surprise. The kid was wearing some kind of bodysuit, covered in dust and grime, as well as being discolored.
Green eyes snapped open, fear gripped his body as Amit spun his head round. His wide eyes landed their gaze upon Jack. In truth, the poor lad didn't know what to think of em. It looked like they had no head!! Which it was only due to the helemt and hood hiding it. Amit scrambled to his feet and tripped into a different corner. Pushing himself into it and staring at Jack fearfully.
His once white and yellow bodysuit was indeed dirty, the grey collar around his neck had a faint light emminatting form it. As the red light lit up as it made sure he didn't change at all. Still, he sat there shuddering.
"Calm down kid, i'm not gonna hurt you, I just need to rest." Jack said putting his back against the wall before collapsing against it and sliding to the ground in a sitting position. He removed his hlemet after lowering his hood, revealing his snow white hair, crimson eyes, the scar doing down across his right eye, as well as the black double helix tattoo curved around his left eye.
Amit stared, a few tears leaving him as he sniffled. Trying to stop crying as he sat there. So it was a person after all? Adjusting his position slightly, he stayed put in the corner though. Giving a glance between them and the noise outside of the detoriating building.
"Who..." Amit questioned, though a loud sound made him jump.
Making him sidetracted from his question as he buried his face into the plushie that he held onto them. It was the only comfort he had honestly. Companion...it was all he had left.
"Hey look at me, everything will be fine, those are far away. I got you kid, I'll protect you ok, where are your parents." Jack said trying to calm the kid down, his outfit didn't match the apparel worn on vice, he looked out of place.
"Kid where are your parents? Like me you don't look like your from this planet." Jack added having gotten his breath back.
"not here...not this planet..." Amit replied, taking a few deep breathes.
He was used to silence, the lab was usually quiet. Taking a deep breathe, he moved his position a little bit.
"My names Jack, what is yours? If were gonna be hiding here for a while, least we can do is know who we are in the company of." Jack said calmly enjoying the rest, he thought about checking his gear, but thought better of it. He did want to scare the kid anymore with his guns and armor which were currently hidden.
"Amit..." Amit replied. "This is Companion."
Amit adjusted his grip on the plushie, showing it to Jack as he sat there. THough he soon held it closer to himself. Turning his head, the collar was revealed around his neck. The child was listening right now, afraid of another loud boom sounding off.
"Why are you wearing that collar, were you taken from your family? I can help you Amit." Jack said not moving but instantly worried by the collar as it was something you either put on a wild animal, or a slave.
"I..left...home." Amit replied. "Though...something happened."
Hearing the collar be mentioned, Amit scooted further back. As if to try and prevent anyone from touching it.
"Why are you so scared of me, I said I'm not gonna hurt you." Jack said raising a hand to try and do a couple calming hand gestures.
"Because people hurt others, Jackass!" Amit retorted. "People lie and they use others. I believed a person who said the same things and what came from it was horrible."
Ironic really. He fled home to keep his humanity and yet, he ended up being turned into something that wasn't human anyway. Squeezing Companion, Amit glanced down with a sigh.
"It's not right..." he muttered
"Life is never fair, I never knew my parents, I grew up in a place where no one gave a shit about you. There will always be people who lie and abuse, it's about not becoming them, and fighting back against those who would do that. So yeah it's not right........nothing is ever right until you make it right." Jack said lowering his head slightly, as he knew all to well nothing was ever fair.
Amit looked away from Jack, it wasn't what he needed to hear. Not right now. He just wanted things to be slightly normal, for the madness to stop and the things that had happened, to have disapepared. Sadly, there was no way for that to happen.
"You aren't helping..with those words.." Amit mumbled, burying his face into the plushed toy.
"Would you rather I lie, I have friends counting on me, and I don't even know where they are. I lead the tank away, so hopefully they can make it to the starport. we had two people to get out of here and some how we got like ten kids tagging along. Not the smoothest mission I've run, but I'll be damned if it stops me from getting back to my wife." Jack said as he decided to examine his helmet a little bit. The outer casing had been cracked by a stray round, the visor had a thin crack running down the right side of the visor.
"Then go!!" Amit barked back. "You don't have to help anyone but your friends, so get! Go away then!"
Amit turned his back to Jack, putting his face back against the plushie he held so close to his heart. In truth, Amit wanted off this planet. He didn't know what this planet was till he got here. He didn't like it here and honestly, he didn't want THEM to find him again. Adjusting his grip on the cat like plushie, Amit adjusted it's paws. Wishing it could be a living thing. It would've been so much better.
"I would but there seems to be a kid somewhere who needs me more right now, because he is alone in hostile territory without anyone looking after him. And I can relate to the kid, I've been there, I was a kid once scared and alone with no one to call friend. Even though no one ever helped me, it would be wrong of me to do the same to him. And do you know what that kid's name is?" Jack said standing up before dusting himself off, and puting his helmet back on.
A few tears left Amit as he sat there. The words did hit his hears but they held no weight to em, at least not in his mind. Though he glanced weakly over his shoulder to the man. Merely shaking his head faintly, at the moment he honestly didn't want to speak.
"He's tough kid named Amit, who has his friend companion to keep him company." Jack said smiling weakly as he saw the kid slowly falling apart in the corner. Jack knew he may not be the nicest person, and didn't have best track record with kids, but he wasn't going to leave Amit here alone, where he might possibly get killed.
Amit gave a confused look to Jack before looking to Companion. If only his friend could talk, maybe they would have a idea on what to do. A weary look was given to Jack, a few tears escaped his eyes before the lad stood up. Keeping his grip on Companion before he ran forward, his small arms wrapping around the man's leg; possibly waist. The child shuddered as he stood there, just wanting to be free of this horrible place.
"Let's get out of this place, the spaceport should be a couple miles north of here and it sounds like the fighting is off a couple miles to our east. We should have no problem getting there, and we can make good time if you ride on my back." Jack said lowering himself so Amit could climb on if he chose to.
Amit took a moment to silently debate on this, was this wise? He put some trust into a man once before. They ended up experimenting on him. Though the faint sounds of fighting in the distance could still reach his ears. Taking a gulp, Amit climbed onto Jack's back. Holding onto them and making sure he had a good grip on his Companion.
"Ok, lets go, I'm going to be moving pretty fast so hold on tight." Jack said before jogging back outside, then heading down backalleys heading north, only having to actually cross the street everyonce in a while.
The child gave a faint nod and didn't really say anything else as Jack carried em. Hopefully without too much trouble to the starport or at least somewhere safe.
