The afternoon had started normally, well as normal as an afternoon in a ruined wasteland could start really. Thomas, Delvik and Indral had gone topside to the bar after the story Indral had told them. They had things to start planning, if they were going to make this cohabitation work. Space wouldn''t be an issue, nor would fresh water with the reclamation and filtration system back online, but food would. Besides, he wanted to give the two Matrons some options, so they decided to grab some food and a few extra bodies to do a survey.


    “We have a few hours of light left,” Indral said loudly to the mixed group of younger hunters and scouts he had managed to find who would be willing to work alongside Thomas. He understood where their thoughts and feelings were coming from, more so than his apprentice, but Delvik had always been a dreamer, it was part of what made him such a great scout and why Indral had taken him as an apprentice. Someone willing to push further, to see new things rather than watch only for what was around them, to seek answers and different paths.


    “We will split into three teams and check these two surrounding buildings.” he continued, not letting his thoughts distract him from the task at hand, “I will take two of the teams into that building there,” pointing at a large, mostly intact building across from the bar.


    “That would have been the old gymnasium for the base,” Thomas said, trying to be helpful, “expect large rooms, some with machinery and some without. I''m pretty sure there was a pool or two within.”


    A few of the Rakus looked confused, and he tried to clarify by explaining what a gym was until Delviks armored elbow smacked into his thigh,


    “A place of training the body, thank you Thomas.” Indral said, taking back control of the conversation.


    “The Third team will be led by Delvik and Thomas, they will check out that squat building over there” he said and pointed to indicate a squat building next to the gym that was missing most of its front.


    Thomas taped at the side of his chin thoughtfully and whispered to Delvik, “I''m pretty sure that was one of the base PX’s, might be some interesting stuff inside”


    Delvik nodded as Indral continued to address the gathered people, “We have seen no movement of hostile creatures since the big fight against the Arvo, but be alert and cautious. Things may still live deeper within. Avoid fighting if possible, this is just to see if these buildings can possibly be used by our people in the future.”


    With a few final words the Rakus began to group up into teams and within minutes the three groups began making their way towards their designated buildings.


    Thomas slung his shotgun over his shoulder as he began to walk with Delvik towards the shattered front of the squat building, and as they neared he spotted the twisted remains of the PX sign laying on the cracked and weed choked remains of the sidewalk.


    “Man, it looks like whatever took out the base blew out every window.” Thomas said as they drew closer. He could see the rusted frame of the sliding doors, and began quietly describing how the building would have looked before it was destroyed.


    He knew that many of Delviks people were still distrusting of him, and both Delvik and Indral had warned him that there were some crazy rumors flying around about him. So he had decided to try and play it cool, act casual and unbothered by the occasional distrustful or worried glances.


    Thankfully, he thought, it was mostly the older ones that were the most distrusting and, if not openly hostile, openly wary of him. This crew seemed to be the younger adults, and he felt that if he showed a more casual and relaxed attitude they might warm up to him.


    Delvik just shook his head, but he considered that it might work if Thomas fostered that “chill” image he had told him about. It certainly couldn''t be worse than Thomas going into “mad scientist mode” as he had called it.


    No, Delvik thought, this would definitely scare his people less than that, although he did wish Thomas would drop the act and just be himself. He felt that might be the best way to win people over, just being the person that Delvik knew Thomas was.


    As they approached the front of the building, the group slowed and began casting glances into the darkened interior. Rows of metal shelving units could be seen with a large trail of debris, mostly leaves that had been blown into the building and piled up at the start of the aisles, and the skittering of small creatures could be heard within.


    Thomas let out a low whistle as the group stopped at the entrance. “Man, time has not been kind to this place.” he said out loud to no one in particular, “Shops like this were where people would stop by to pick up small items, snacks and such. I doubt we will find much of value, probably mark it all as matter for the Hopper.”


    Delvik nodded as he tried to picture what the place would have looked like before it was destroyed. Taking his eyes off the building, he waved over the others in the group and quickly began issuing orders. Three were sent up to the roof to check for big holes, nests and to keep watch, while three more were sent to check the sides and rear of the building for other entrances. As the other sped off to their assigned tasks, he nudged Thomas to get his attention.


    “You and I will go through the front, and you can tell me more about this place,” he said.


    Thomas smiled and started forward as he pulled out a flashlight. WIth a click the beam of light cut through the gloom within, highlighting eight decades of decay. Stepping through the space in the door frame that was once filled with glass they both entered the building.


    “Ugh, smells like wet dog in here” Thomas said quietly as he passed the beam of light over the aisles


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    Delvilk was wishing for his suit''s facemask as the musky smell grew stronger as they moved down the aisles, but slowly his fascination over the strange objects took his attention away from the smell. He pointed out various items as they carefully walked through the building, with Thomas happily explaining what they were and were used for.


    Thomas had been mostly prophetic in regards to the building. All of the food stuff had long since rotted away, even the canned goods rusting until holes opened up in them. That''s not to say that they didn''t find anything of interest. A storage closet held some boxes with plastic sealed clothing that had been largely untouched, and a fancy sword that Thomas described as ceremonial was found in a glass case behind a counter, along with some other smaller knives that were not too badly rusted. The big find however was something that Thomas had overlooked.


    There were a few rotted examples on a rack, but the three that had entered from the back entrance had found a box of small backpacks, well small for humans, that had a curious plastic tube coming out from them. When Thomas explained what they were, mini-backpacks with a water bladder for hiking, Delvik had the others gather as many as they could carry.


    These would be a great tool for the scouts and hunters, Delvik thought.


    He also had the others do another sweep of the building in case they missed anything that might be valuable to the tribe that may have been overlooked, but with the light rapidly dimming outside, cut the search short.


    Weighted down with new found treasures, they made their way out of the building and back to the meet up point, where they found the others waiting outside the gymnasium. Indral and several others were soaking wet, and a few had visible but light looking injuries.


    Indral looked at Delvik and Thomas’ team, muttered a few choice words about the luck of youth and signaled everyone to begin heading back to the bar.


    Delvik with concern in his voice asked what had happened but all Indral did was wave it off and say “after we get some drinks”.


    Thankfully for all involved, it was a short walk, and as they filed into the bar a rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance.


    Quickly the loot was piled up on an unused table and drinks found wanting hands. Thomas made his way back behind the bar and fired up the grill. He placed a large wok over the gas burner they had salvaged. He listened to Indrals tale of exploring the gym as the wok heated up, of them cautiously exploring the building and finding nothing until they found a large room with two large pools of murky, slime covered water.


    Thomas was tossing in handfuls of thin cut meat strips and vegetables as Indral spoke of huge worm like creatures that leapt from beneath the murky water, their circular mouths filled with rows of teeth trying to bite and tear off chunks of flesh, or how they would try to wrap around their target and roll them into the water.


    The story quickly devolved into a mixture of wild boasting of combat prowess and various jokes about worm bait as Thomas cooked and laughed along.


    He was plating up the stirfry, which strangely had become the most popular food amongst the Rakus, when the bell above the front door jingled. Thomas looked up and saw three figures standing at the entrance, two very tall and bulky with a smaller figure in the middle. All three were heavily cloaked with their hoods pulled low and what looked like masks.


    All laughter died suddenly with the new arrivals as all heads turned to the entrance and watched as they slowly looked around, taking in the interior before slowly beginning to walk forward.


    Thomas walked around the bar, setting the tray of steaming meat and vegetables on the counter, and with what he thought was his most winning smile, approached the three who slowed at his approach and seemed to stiffen up.


    “Welcome to the Post Apocalypse Bar and Grill,” he said, “we weren''t expecting visitors, but welcome, I’m Thomas”


    The middle and smaller figure was the first to react, the other two remained frozen in place, as it reached up and removed its mask and pushed back its hood, revealing a young woman.


    Thomas felt his heart stop for a moment, the first human he had met in this new world, and it was a girl. The skin on her face was tanned from a life spent outdoors, her hair dark brown, nearly black, but her eyes drew in his attention. They were milky white, pupil and iris both, but he felt that she was looking right at him.


    It was such a shock that he actually missed her beginning to speak.


    “I''m sorry, what was that?” THomas said.


    “I said, what interesting company you keep. Not many humans out here play nice with the mutant races,” she said.


    “Oh, well I can''t say that I have had the chance to meet many, well any humans out here. Only Delvik and his people, and he saved my life so…” he trailed off as she continued to look around, “I''m sorry if this is rude, can you see?”


    “Of course it''s rude, but since you apologized in advance, I can see, just not with my eyes, if that answers your question,” she said with a chuckle, “oh, that food smells delicious”


    Thomas was still trying to process her words and mumbled, “yeah, thanks. Its fresh stir fry”


    Delvik had been sitting back and watching from the side as this all took place. Watching these strange newcomers, and then Thomas’s interactions with this new human. He was trying to figure out what exactly was happening when he caught a familiar scent that made his nose twitch. He noticed several others curiously sniffing at the air, and then shifted his eyes to the two large companions of the Human.


    No…. it couldn''t be he thought, as Thomas led the smaller one towards the bar to try the food.


    The two large figures seemed to be lost and confused as they stood there, their heads shifting from looking towards each other, then to the two Humans and then the surrounding Rakus. One of them began to step forward and then someone screamed loudly, and everything turned to chaos.


    “a….a…..ARVO!!” one of the warriors shouted while pointing at the one who had taken a step forward.


    Delvik and Indrals eyes snapped to the figure and saw what the hunter had spotted, poking out from beneath the heavy overcoat was a bare bit of reptilian tail.


    Tables were flipped over and spears leveled at the figures


    “Oh goddamnit” a female voice said loudly, somehow cutting through the noise


    Delvik felt his fur begin to rise as an electrical charge filled the air, and he heard the female shout “Alright, nobody move and make me do something you''ll all regret”


    Delvik noticed two things in that moment, the first was the female Humans arms were wreathed in purple colored lightning and were pointed at Thomas whose face had drained of color. The second was the door to the bunker opening and the two Matrons stepping out.


    Aw shit, was all he could think at that moment.