Chapter 1
Why are humans so weak? That is a question that has plagued my mind for a few minutes, and I don't just mean physically—I mean emotionally too.
The reason this question came to mind was that Superpowered Guards were currently chasing me for a crime I didn't commit. Why I ran, I have no idea, but I just did—maybe off instinct.
For as long as I can remember, my instincts have proven to be powerful. I've done things I didn't even know I was capable of. Once, I took down an entire squad of guards, but that was when I had my revolvers. Unfortunately, I had left them in her room, and I wouldn't be able to go back there for a while. And now this situation.
I climbed to the top of the ladder, focusing on the guards below me, not even noticing the guards above me.
And that is how I ended up in Greywood Holding.
In essence, I was in prison for a crime I knew nothing about. But hey, at least they had a working box TV. That's better than half of the wasteland around here after the incident about three years back. That was also when I lost everything—my identity, my clothes, and worst of all, my name.
So what did I do?
I made a name for myself.
Unfortunately, it seems to have a background of previous theft, which led them to believe I was part of today's bank heist.
"And now, just reporting in from China, are the Frost Twins—today's strongest NeoGens and current owners of the Neill Company that leads in bringing science fiction to li—"
Beep.
I didn't feel like hearing more about the Twins. Nowadays, they were everywhere. I mean everywhere. The very city I was sitting in had been built by—
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Today couldn't get any worse for me, could it? I mean, the chances of me getting freed were like one in a million. I was someone who angered people and stole from them.
Clink, clank.
Squeak.
The door slowly opened.
"You're free to go, Colt. Don't know what whack job decided to pay for your bail, but you get to go."
I chuckled. Lady Luck shines brightly today.
"See ya, John. Same time next week," I said as I passed by. "Maybe I'll bring donuts next time, for my favorite officer."
Normally, they would walk you out of the station, but they knew I knew the way.
As I reached the front of the station, a group of about six was standing there.
"We bailed you."
A short girl with dirty red hair said it, arms crossed like she expected a thank-you. The rest of her group seemed anxious. They were all fidgeting with rings or looking around the place. They also seemed to have dirt everywhere—maybe coal miners or something else.
"Thanks. Anyway, see ya, losers."
I pushed open the doors.
"Hey, we ain't done talking!"
I chuckled.
"You ain't, but I am."
I ran toward the nearby apartments. I was already looking for handholds on the building, and once I found some, I started climbing the side of the apartment complex with surprising speed.
I'm pretty sure her face was red with anger. Not that I stayed around long enough to see it. Not that it would have mattered if I did—they wouldn't have been able to reach me in time. Their group looked to be made up primarily of unfit people.
But then again, nowadays it was dangerous to judge people by appearance.
I needed to get my revolvers back. It would definitely be a difficult heist, especially with Mia being the mayor's daughter. We couldn't have been together. I couldn't provide her with the lifestyle she was accustomed to, and her parents didn't support us at all. That was also part of the reason we broke up.
It just wouldn't have worked.
No. I couldn't get in my feelings. I was still out in the open, and the Outlaw Colt Jacobs couldn't be seen like this. But then again, I guess I'm not the greatest outlaw. Still, I was known by this town enough, and those revolvers were my symbol.
Racing across rooftops, I felt like someone was watching me, but every time I looked around, no one was close. I took the long way since I had made a lot of enemies in my short two years here, which is why I didn't trust that group at all.
And even if they were doing it out of goodwill toward me, the question remained:
What would they want?
No. I kept getting distracted. I needed to stay focused on my task.
I needed my revolvers.
So I needed to plan a heist or somehow get in contact with Mia again.
I would be getting to my door any minute now, but the feeling that I was being watched still hadn't left me, so I stopped atop one of the roofs and waited for any movement.
But after about twenty minutes—nothing.
I guess I was just really paranoid after this shitty day I've had.
I looked up at the gray sky.
"Maybe it'll rain today."
Rain was exceptionally rare nowadays, for some reason.
I stepped through my door as the hot and cold air clashed until I closed it. This was technically a vacant building, but I had called it home for about a year, ever since my last home had gotten burned to the ground by some random gang I pissed off.
That was also the day most gangs ended up leaving me alone after.
Of course, there were the occasional new hotshot gangs that thought they could mess with me and show their dominance to the other gangs, but those were also the gangs that fizzled out the fastest—like a random volcano. They quickly erupted, caused damage, and then went dormant or turned into a mountain.
I walked up to my room and found the group that had paid my bail sitting in there.
But they were missing one.
And before I realized it was a trap, my world went spinning.
As the floor got closer, it suddenly stopped getting closer, and then I felt my hands getting bound.
"What could your group need with me?"
A blonde-haired girl who spoke softly said:
"Let's start with introductions. I'm Sophie. That is Carter."
She pointed to a big guy. He seemed likely to be the strongest of the group.
"The red-haired one is Maya."
Short-tempered. Seemed likely to be a tech specialist. I say that not because of her temper, but because she was taking apart my clock.
"The one wearing a black cloak is Reed."
Likely a recon dude or something.
"And she is Lena."
She was likely trained in shooting since she understood the importance of maintaining a gun. She was polishing her sniper's barrel.
Sophie then pointed at one last person.
"And this is Elijah."
He was covered in grease and grime—could be a mechanic for the group.
"So what do you need with legendary outlaw Colt Jacobs?"
Elijah chuckled.
"We need your assistance in a heist."
They knew exactly what I was good for and for how long.
The question was: Would they pin the blame on me?
"And it seems you've got a solid enough team already, so why choose me?"
He kneeled down.
"We needed you to get the mayor's daughter, and word is that you and her… well, y'all were close."
I spat toward him.
"I ain't helping you hurt Mia."
The restraints dug into my wrists as I pulled against them.
I saw bright white lights, and I was strapped down to a chair, screaming, but no one cared.
That wasn't my memory.
I don't think.
"So, tough guy, what will you do if we use you as bait?"
If my body wasn't overheating from this headache, I would have retorted with something funny, but he had a point. Mia still saw me as a friend. She would certainly come to help me.
"Why do you need her?"
Elijah looked over to Sophie.
"Well, we need money, and who would have more than the mayor?"
I sighed and thanked God that it wasn't revenge.
"Why don't I just help you rob a bank or something? Where would there be more money than a bank?"
Lena shook her head.
"Too many guards."
I sighed.
"Do you think the mayor skimps on his daughter's safety? She has some of the strongest NeoGens the wasteland has ever seen as her guards."
Elijah sighed.
"And from what I could gather, you seem to be related to Neo in some way. You two look the exact same, so my guess is that you are likely just as strong as him—if not maybe a little weaker."
Hahahahah.
"Yeah, nice joke, buddy. If I was even a fraction of his strength, you think your team would've gotten me?"
They shrugged.
"Well, we need the money within the month."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why? What for?"
Maya looked upset.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
Probably her parent or something.
"I'll help you find a different method to obtain the money needed."
Elijah smiled.
"Good, because I don't want to kidnap anyone."
I sighed in relief.
"Can you unbind my hands?"
Seconds later, my hands were unbound.
"Thanks."
Elijah nodded.
"You're welcome. And man, you're such a big inspiration for me. Like your heist on the Jadeview Bank—that was genius, man."
Interesting.
They knew about me.
I guess they really needed this money, so they did their research. That, or they got a broker.
"Yeah, well, that was when I had my revolvers."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me the Bandit Outlaw Colt grew a conscience."
I hated when people talked in a condescending tone.
"No. I left them at Mia's place."
Elijah then spoke.
"Then stroll on by and get them."
I shook my head.
"We broke up."
Sophie then said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world:
"Why not ask for them back?"
I shook my head.
"I'll need a heist. I can do it on my own, though."
Elijah shook his head.
"I want to see your skills in action."
I sighed.
"Well, does tomorrow work? Also, were y'all following me?"
Lena nodded.
"Neogen ability."
I nodded.
"And what class are you in?"
There were four classes of abilities. Technically five. I was part of group five—the Sovereign Class, categorized as having more than one ability.
She raised two fingers.
"I see. Arcane abilities, if I remember correctly."
She nodded.
"And you?"
I shrugged.
"I believe I would be in Tier Five."
Elijah clapped me on the back.
"Just what I expected. What two do you combine?"
I itched the side of my head.
"All."
That got everyone's attention.
Everyone was looking at me wide-eyed, as if what I said was impossible.
"I guess you really are related to Neo."
I heard a whisper—someone saying Luke.
"I need to get some air."
As I walked down the stairs, my vision doubled and my foot slipped.
Bang.
Standing at the top of the stairs, I saw red hair.
"Good going, strong boy."
I brought my arm up and flipped her off.
Slowly but steadily, I pushed myself off the ground.
"Thanks for the help," I said sarcastically.
Then I walked to the door.
"If you need to tell me your secret base location for your grand heist, tell me now or have fun finding me!"
I shouted.
They didn't respond in time, so I left.
I weakly climbed a red brick apartment. I could run and warn Mia. Maybe then her dad might approve of me. But the world would see me as a traitor.
But who could blame me?
I mean, I'm still in love with Mia.
I can't just abandon her, and I know doing this heist will be equivalent to that.
I had zoned out and ran toward the one place I could remember—the waterfront, or at least what was left of it. As it turned out, there was a lot of dangerous material stored in this city pre-Neo event, so the water had to go through high-intensity treatment.
And yet the lower class still died of illness from the water, since even with the treatment, it was still subpar.
For some reason, the water—no matter how contaminated—always seemed to calm my nerves down.
"I need to talk to Mia."
I hadn't even realized I was fidgeting with my fingers.
I scooted closer to the edge.
"So what's my plan?"
I could go and talk with Mia first, maybe get my guns, or I could scout way more.
If I'm the lead, I'll need my guns.
So that settles it.
I need to get to Mia—not just for me, but to show everyone that I'm capable of getting to even the mayor.
I needed to show the town that I wasn't weak.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
I turned around.
"Hey, Sophie, I believe."
She smiled and nodded.
"Well, what were you doing?"
I shrugged.
"Thinking."
She sat down next to me.
"About?"
I shrugged.
"The meaning of life."
I laughed. Not because it was funny.
"No, but seriously, I'm planning how to get my revolvers back."
She nodded.
"Makes sense."
The sun broke through the clouds.
She said:
"Maybe we won't get rain."
I nodded.
"Silent type when faced with actual thoughts. But I'm guessing you came up here to be alone, so I'll leave you for now."
I chuckled.
"No, it's fine. I have something I need to do now anyway."
She nodded.
"Figured out your plan then?"
I stood up.
"Yep. All figured out."
I jumped off the edge of the roof into a pile of trash.
Sophie jumped down after me.
"Ever been to the Black Market?"
She shook her head.
"Too far out of the city for my liking."
I nodded.
"Okay, City Girl."
I walked away, and I kept walking for a while.
And Sophie kept following.
"I thought you were a city girl."
She didn't respond.
"Okay, giving me the silent treatment now. I see."
We were getting closer to the northern walls. They had initially been a rushed project since no one foresaw the emergence of mutants.
It's kinda fucked up that not everyone gained powers from Neo.
Some became mutants.
"Did you have any family before Neo?"
She looked up and nodded.
"Are they still alive?"
She looked toward the ocean but didn't answer.
But in a way, she did, I guess.
"I don't even know who my parents are. I lost my memories about three years ago. Still get random echoes of them, but nothing that stays too long."
She looked back over.
"Damn."
I breathed in.
"Not really. Means I don't know what y'all had before this."
I motioned around.
"I mean, I can see some buildings and tech, but really I haven't a clue about what y'all fully had."
She nodded.
"Facebook. I miss it."
My head tilted.
"What?"
She nodded.
"It was something on phones. Not the point. Let's continue moving."
I nodded.
"Can you fly?"
She shook her head.
"Man, this is going to suck for me. Or I could force you to climb or stay here. Make your choice."
She made me wait a full twenty minutes just so she could connect us with some damn rope. I mean, it was unlikely she would have fallen or dropped, but still—she made me waste my precious twenty minutes.
We were taking a break on top of the wall.
"Guessing you've never been on top of the wall."
She nodded.
"It's calm."
I was waiting for smoke or something to come from a factory and ruin the moment, but none did.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It is calm."
My hair was pushed back.
"Huh."
She looked over at me.
"What's up?"
I shrugged.
"Nothing."
I chuckled.
"No, seriously, what's up? Do I got like a bug in my hair?"
I shook my head.
"No. I had almost forgotten what wind feels like. I guess that is a major downside to these places. Maybe I'll go back to being a roaming outlaw. Anyway, let's go."
She stood up, and I grabbed her.
"Hold on tight. No rope this time."
I jumped off the edge of the wall while staying very close to it. We were moving quite fast.
"Wanna see something cool?"
She was shaking her head, her hair flying everywhere.
"NOOOO!"
I activated my flight ability, which didn't stop our movement but slowed us down. I did it a few more times before I hit the ground.
It was enough.
By the time I hit the ground, all it did was create a massive crater, and we were only a few feet from the wall.
I felt something hit me in the face.
"You jerk!"
I set her down.
"Fastest route."
She crossed her arms.
"Doesn't make it right."
I shrugged.
"Well, come on, or you'll be eaten by mutants. And well, that would ruin your pretty face."
Her face got really red.
I guess people didn't compliment her often.
"You mean it?"
I nodded.
"Now hurry up or they may seriously eat you."
We didn't talk for a long while after that, mainly because I was trying to spot any danger before it got to us.
We were slowly making our way to the entrance, which happened to be the only standing building besides the walls for about five miles, maybe more.
We had maybe one mile left.
I know I could sprint it, but Sophie probably couldn't.
"Get on my shoulders."
Her face got red again.
"Why?"
I sighed.
"No time to explain. Get on my shoulders, City Girl."
She still wouldn't.
"Didn't want to do this."
I hit her on the side of the head, knocking her out. I slung her over my shoulder and began to sprint toward the building.
Air was coursing through my hair while sand and grass flung behind me. Still, I couldn't focus on the joys of this planet. I needed to stay alert for any mutants.
I was half a mile out when Sophie began to squirm in my arm.
"Quit, or we will both die."
I didn't say it in my normal goofy-ass way of speaking. I said it as I would with my crew.
Man, it had been months since I had seen Morte. Hope he's done well since we parted.
I opened the door.
"Can I get down now?"
I set her down.
"No hard feelings, right?"
She smiled.
Not in a cute way, but in a demented I'm going to slit your throat in your sleep type of way.
"Yeah, we are good," she said slowly.
So I'm certainly going to sleep with my door locked and a bat next to me.
"Follow me. I've been here once, so I'm hoping they still operate."
I threw aside a rug and pulled up a tiny latch before slowly climbing down.
Once at the bottom, there was a single metal door.
I swung it open.
A metal object came flying at my face.
The world went dark.