Toot! Tooo-ooooot!
Waves sloshed against the ships' sides as several cargo ships slowed to a stop at the dock, announcing their arrival with loud blaring horns. In the dead of night, carrying flashlights and wearing raincoats and boots, scrambled several workers, cursing as they were whipped by the wind and rain.
"Argh, Someone lower the gangplank!"
"I shouldn't have worn socks.."
"Hey! Over here!"
Clannkk.
A large gantry crane swooped in overhead, picking the large containers off a ship labeled 'The WayMaker.' It lifted the containers one by one, sorting them to the port's storage yard or onto trucks.
The workers swiftly set to work, carrying large packages with forklifts and reach stackers.
The crane dropped another container in the storage yard, where a customs inspection was ongoing.
"Is this the one?" asked a plump, balding man in his forties, tapping on one of the bigger containers. On the container's side was the word 'Grimbyte,' painted in white. "The shipment was delayed, I heard?"
"Yeah, it's only just gotten here, even though it was supposed to be top p-priority." A customs officer in blue replied. He shivered, absolutely soaked.
His companion beside him tapped him on the shoulder. "Sorry about him; he fell overboard during a quick inspection. Well, you'll be checking inside it, then?"
"Of course," said the bald man, yawning. "My boss gave me an earful when I said it'll be delivered late, as if it was my fault.. hey, you three, open this thing."
Three port workers hurriedly dropped the packages they were holding and did as they were told. As they finished releasing the vertical rods, they were tossed aside by the bald man.
"Ah! There it is."
Nestled between several other similar containers was a small, rectangular crate, it's lid labeled '072' in large black paint. Ignoring all the others, the bald man entered the container and checked the crate's condition.
"All good, sir?" asked the officer in blue.
"In perfect condition." The bald man sounded satisfied. "Have all this loaded onto my truck. I'll be leaving for Nexus tonight."
"That's pretty far. Don't you need a Deviant?"
"Nah. I can manage on my own."
"That's basically suici--" the man's companion nudged his shoulder, and he caught himself. "Er.. have a safe trip, then, sir."
"Mhm. I will, don't ya worry."
Following the customs officers' orders, the one operating the gantry crane picked up the 'Grimbyte' container and set it on the bald man's truck. After a few workers came to secure and lock it in place, the bald man hoisted himself (with some difficulty?) onto the drivers seat.
The truck backed out from the storage yard, and, under the relentless fall of wind and rain, drove out of the port.
Vroooom.
"Ooohhh, Susanna.." the large radio in the front started to play. The man hummed along, carelessly driving along the empty, slippery roads.
"When will I meet you again.."
Rinngg! Rinnnngg!!
"Until my heart will surely mend.."
Rinnnggg! Rinnnggggg!
"Kuhk, what is it this time?"
The bald man, irritated, picked up his phone from the passenger's seat beside him and answered the call.
"Hello?"
The person from the other end of the line talked for a very long time. When the person finished, the bald man burst into anger.
"What? Deliver it tomorrow? I won't arrive until a week of traveling! A week, I say! You expect me to cover that distance in just ONE night?!"
There was a brief pause, and the bald man spoke again, even angrier than before.
"Then tell that lunatic he got the places wrong! What do you expect me to do?!"
Beeeep.
"F/cking bastard.."
The bald man set the phone down in a fury. The relentless falling of the wind and rain did not stop. The bald man set his eyes on the road, looking both ticked and grim, a vein pulsing in his temple.
"Urgh.. just one night.."
The road was clear. There were no other vehicles.. and all that surrounded him were forest.
"I can't believe I'm doing this."
The man pressed his foot down on the accelerator.
VROOOOOO...
The truck sped down the lone highway. The container, despite how strongly it was secured, bumped and jumped as the bald man urged the very limits of speed.
VWOOOOOMM!!
As time went on, the wind and rain only grew stronger and stronger; it showed no signs of stopping. Soon, a thick fog came on the road.
"Sh/t, I can't see a thing in front of me.."
Despite knowing that, the bald man did not make the truck slow down. It was a decision he would soon regret more than any other.
Schwee..
"Huh-- AGGHHHHHHHH!!"
The truck slipped. Right in front of him, clouded by fog, was a sharp curve. This part of the road had no railings attached. The moment he had realized, it was too late.
Skreeeeee-
"UAAAAAAHHH!!"
CRAAAAAASSHHH!
The truck hurled down the cliff.
It slammed against trees, against protruded, jagged rocks, and finally, smashed into a massive boulder at the bottom.
BOOM.
Fwooosh..
The bald man, driving at the front, didn't stand a chance. His skull shattered on impact, splitting like a melon. Glass shards pierced him, and his leg snapped.
Drip.
Blood dripped down his headless body.
The rain continued to fall, even more relentlessly this time, hammering the overturned truck. The truck lay on it's side, everything inside of the container toppling out, broken.
Rattle. Rattle.
Well, except for one.
Rattle. Rattle.
Cushioned between the wall and several protective pillows was the small crate, marked '072.'
Rattle. Rattle.
Inside the wrecked container, the crate rattled violently. The straps that had held it in place had snapped, and it's cover had cracked open.
Rattle.. Rattle..
Snap.
Peeking out from the small crack on it's cover were two small, vibrant blue eyes.