"The non-believers of Science were punished. To those who oppose the Cause and the Order is a direct sin against the Corporation. The Corporation served as a divine representation of Science as the father of Humanity, the reason for our survival. Our savior.
Axiom Trench is supposedly a place of livelihood and trade. Merchants, traders, middlemen, businessmen, and even Tourists visited the Trench for many exploits that our beloved City can offer. It ran for years, peaceful and untouched. But because of these non-believers, the liars, the traitors to the cause, these menacing Abominants ran down the place, killing every non-believer in our beloved Axiom.
Remember this: Abominants are the creation of Science. Therefore, their existence, although hard to fathom, has a purpose. These creatures are our evidence of punishment.
There is no hope out there. There is no Life. Only here in Axe Central City, with the Corporation's guidance and power, can we live harmoniously. Forever.
- Gospel of Science, High Priestess of Scientology
****
Damian hit the brakes hard, and the wheels squealed against the rocky terrain. It was his reflexes that halted their vehicle to safety from the Abominant's attack.
Hurriedly, they disembarked their vehicle and frantically stood over the skid marks made by the large-wheeled vehicle before it fell. Joe was cursing; it was so loud that nearby animals would skittle away, if there were any. George was silent, inspecting the chasm, but it was clear that he wasn't sure what to do next.
Lance had increased his shaking, rarely ceasing. It was more difficult to move now, as if his knees were frozen by the cold breeze of the hill's high altitude.
They called it a hill, but it was a vast mountain with bends of various silhouettes of mountain peaks, and cliffs deep enough that the bottom was indiscernible.
"No," Handsome was walking back and forth in the same direction. His fists were clenched; he even kicked a nearby stone. With utter disappointment, he took out two grenades.
"What are you doing?" Damian said, his palm rose to the agitated comrade.
"Fatso, and Lanky," Handsome said; he was face down, staring at the rocky ground.
"We need to move," Damian interjected to a somehow defeated soldier.
"They were my friends." Handsome's voice was shaking.
"I have to scan the bottom first," Lance said as if trying to put Handsome at ease. Even though it was hopeless, the fall was too high for survival. Moreover, the Abominant could deliver the deaths of the survivors instantly.
"Scanning..." Jasper said. His signal had returned. Their altitude may be high enough to capture direct satellite signals that provide online connections.
"I saw only one casualty, Master," Jasper reported. "The creature was still alive... it's..." Jasper hesitated. Even an AI can evaluate emotional incidents.
"Jasper, can you locate the other body?" Lance asked and had moved even closer to the cliff's edge.
"Not in the area of scanning coverage, master. Probably, one is alive and managed to escape. Or died during the fall and his body was thrown beyond the coverage of my scan."
Jasper was accurate. The second option was probably viable, could be that the body was thrown during the fall farther away to the outgrowing trees along the cliff.
"Kid," Damian seemed to have waited for the results of the scan. Handsome was ready to release the hand grenades, both in his hands.
"Only one is confirmed dead," Lance said.
"Who is it?" Handsome spoke; he took steps nearer the chasm.
"The one called Lanky," Jasper said. Handsome heard the AI's voice and jerked in surprise. He took a step back, his eyes piercing at the kid plastered with questions. Then afterward, his eyes returned to the chasm below, and the grenades were ready for deployment.
"Fatso, if you can hear me!" Handsome screamed towards the chasm, "If you are still alive. I will drop these grenades, and you take cover. I will avenge the fallen"
"Drop 'em here." Lance pointed in a direction where Jasper had shown a holographic image of the moving objects below the trench and the topography of the chasm.
"Sorry, Lanky," Handsome said softly; he had a refined voice now. He activated the grenades with a series of buttons, and it sparked a series of LED lights that came from its metallic shell. He threw them to where Lance pointed, and the grenades disappeared as they descended.
Then a blinding light emerged suddenly, revealing the chasm's form; the illumination crept to the rocky surface of the cliffs.
Explosions shook the mountain bed.
Lance covered his ears. The thunderous explosion reverberated against their feet, seemingly crushing the rocky terrain into bits.
"The creature was hit!" After the echoing noise, Lance said, as it showed in his scanned holographic representation.
"Is it dead?" Joe asked this time.
"Jasper, confirm vitals," Lance commanded.
"The human body was decimated. The creature has vitals, still, but has not moved yet since the explosions."
"You better fecking die, you abomination!" Joe rejoiced. To Lance's surprise, Joe said it confidently.
"Grenades can't kill them. It will curl its body if it senses an explosion. The grenades will slow the creature down, but it won't kill it. The blinding light will stun them. These creatures hate the light." Handsome explained.
"Die, you scum!" Joe sprayed bullets with his weapon towards the chasm. The sound of the rifle echoed throughout the peaks.
"You fool!" George interjected into Joe's rage and slapped the back of the latter's head slowly. Then Joe ceased his foolish attempt.
"Save your bullets, you idiot!" Damian reprimanded, his voice echoing against the mountain range.
"Remember, guys, Obsidian never stops hunting its prey. And we don't want a level 3 Abominant to reach Axiom Trench. We should stop it at the peak line, as Fatso planned. We will carry out the ambush." Handsome suggested.
"The peak line? Should we call more reinforcements?" Joe asked. "We can't kill an Abominant with only us. We need more firepower!"
"We have killed every level 2 Abominants using the peak line. It is perfect for ambush. We lured them into this road and reached the line, then there we concentrated our firepower to a narrow point of entry. We'll trap it," Handsome explained. "We have done this before, kid!"
'Level 2? But we are facing level 3,' Lance thought. Nobody asked this question. He did not, too. He thought maybe the Peak line was a perfect ambush spot effective for whatever level of Abominant they faced.
They were lucky to have Handsome accompany them as an Outsider because of his familiarity with various strategic locations outside the walls. His skills might be better than any Insider could have.
Jefferson was right to have further reinforcements for Lance's safety.
"There is no time to chit-chat, lads!" Damian said. "That Abominant will come sooner."
They rode out aslopes quickly as possible with their jeep. Damian was still the driver, and the rest had their same sitting arrangements. The jeep raged against the rocky terrain and climbed a gradual steep.
"Lance, I have something to give you," Handsome said from the back seat. "If all else fails, use this."
Handsome handed over a hunting knife, almost as long as his forearm. Its handle seemed to have a button on it.
"Press this button, and this will activate the laser field edge." Handsome explained. "That's why we call it the Laser Edge Hunting Knife."
Lance received it. It was cold and heavy. Not a typical knife he used in his kitchen. It was of a different feel to clasp your fingers with, as if the handle's design was meant for his finger length and palm size
He waved the weapon mid-air, the blade slicing through the cold breeze. It had weight but was manageable for a kid like him. A soft metallic whistle sounded every time the blade danced into the air.
"Careful with it. It's an uncommon item. Use it as your last resort. If guns are to no avail." Handsome said. "Now press the button."
A sudden hum of a bluish laser field emerged, flowing neatly into the edge of the knife.
Dangerous for a kid like him.
"Now, it can cut steel and bones easily. Even the obsidian armor of the scorpion."
Lance nodded in appreciation and placed the weapon in its holster at the side of his belt.
"Jasper, record my inventory."
"Copy that, Master."
------------------------------------------------------
Inventory:
1 Uncommon Double Barrel Handgun, Bulk slugs
1 Uncommon Laser Field Hunting Knife
1 Common 45mm Handgun
-----------------------------------------------------
They were closer to the Peak Line as the road became narrower. A chokepoint strategy for large beasts like the Obsidian Scorpion, as Handsome explained.
"Damian, you know how this works, right? Work with George and Joe. I will partner with Lance." Handsome said.
Damian was hesitant to comply as suggested. He held a long stare at the kid as if asking for approval. Lance nodded.