The Reign of the Death-Defying Scientist

“It’s so hot again today”, I grunted as I was walking down the typical pathway. Times like these make me cherish all the moments I get to take a breather at the serene and calm settlement I have nestled in. And the sun right on top of my head was only making things worse. I really wished I could travel more lightly, but if I left anything else behind, I wouldn’t have space to carry the materials I needed. The task was rather simple: Buy two new knives, some clear bandages and antibiotics. My makeshift infirmary was running thin on supplies and the neighbours, persuasive as they usually are, talked me into running an errand for them. As much as I enjoy the scenery on my way to the city, I despise that place. It just reminds me how hectic the world is right now. Currently, everyone is fending for themselves. Cities have crumbled down and large groups of people have formed different and independent societies. Governments have fallen and survival of the fittest is the norm. The cause of all this disarray is the attempts of otherworldly and seemingly advanced lifeforms to take dominion over this planet, called “Xenos”. No one knows where they came from and for what reason, but frankly, this is the least of our worries. It appears they are able to regenerate extremely quickly, their numbers seem to never dwindle down, they are relentless and awfully strong. Somehow, their first attacks were dealt with and they have taken a more passive approach….for now. However, the price was quite heavy. Everything was left devastated and people had no idea what to do next. No living human can truly live alone and thus small communities came to be. There are some that are more “wild” and extreme, like “The Undying”, a clan that values greatly hostility and violence, who are thankfully quite far away, and some that are docile and unassertive like the one I currently live in. It’s a remote and isolated town and that’s better from wondering around.  Having peace of mind, people around me and direct access to food, in exchange for providing my medical knowledge and treating the ill sounds like an exceptionally good arrangement. After some while, I can see the nearest city in the horizon and immediately my mood takes a turn for the worse. This one in specific was more of a dictatorship than anything else. Someone had the bright idea of setting up base near a dam with a hydroelectric station, making him one of the few people with access to electricity and potable water. As more and more people started to flock in, that man proclaimed himself “The Prince” and established some sort of a sovereignty. People, terrified of the grim situation, eagerly accepted to join him, in hopes that they will be protected and have access to their old comforts like electricity. However, none of them were the case, considering they are treated like objects and live under “His Majesty’s” boot. But alas, I can’t help but giving him props for his ingenuity and ambition, it takes some serious guts to pull something like this off successfully. Before I pass the gate, I take a look once more at the… “decorations”. Two heads from leftover Xeno’s bodies were on each side of the gate’s entrance, a sign with the “inspiring” message “Running will make no difference. Your loyalty to me will be rewarded.”, and of course, my favourite, a whole Xeno crucified. His eyes are long shut, but his black, thick fur is still coarse as ever. Its mouth is open wide, with its fangs coming into view. Its long and muscular limbs were nailed to each end of the cross as tradition requests, with the result being the creature laying standing in a “T” pose. Traces of a dark cobalt fluid, all dried up now, which probably functions as their blood, can still be seen if you pay close attention. “Name and business” said one of the guardsman bored and pissed. “Come on Alan, why bother asking the same things when you know the answer to both of them?” I replied playfully as if he was a friend. “Formalities.”, replied Alan. “Now answer” I looked at the unfamiliar guard across and I could tell he was staring daggers at me. I sigh. “Simon. I’m here to visit the market. It won’t take long”, I responded while rolling my eyes. Without saying anything else, he wrote something on a notebook and nodded the man across to grant me access. I am grateful to this man for not making me undergo the usual checkups and turning a blind eye. Looks like saving someone from peril makes them feel indebted to you. And all it took was 10 years in medicine and some careful stitches. As soon as I made my first steps in and without the gate being fully closed yet, I feel a person crashing on to me with full momentum, head on. We both fall down and I hear the distinct sound of bodies hitting the floor and the sound of metal being dropped. Before I could tell him to watch where he is going, I notice his face is tense, he is breathing heavily and he was already getting up while I was laying on the ground. He was trying to reach for that metal thing that fell, while suddenly, I realized what he was running away from. The local enforcement unit was on his tail and they were dangerously close. As soon as that mysterious man saw it as well and understood that he wouldn’t make it in time to leave, if he tried to pick up the item he dropped, he started sprinting towards the exit waypoint without it, completely disregarding and going through the two people guarding the fence, and exited the city, with the people after him following him tightly. Naturally, none payed me any mind and I picked myself back up. “Now, what would that thing be….”