[SHORT STORY] Dust Devil - Part 02

The door opened, and a startled masked face greeted Roe’s Gladio. A Martian, thank the stars. She withdrew her blade, disabling her Defense System and relaxing. She was in no immediate danger.

The Martian, now recovered from the initial shock of having a Gladio aimed at his head, visibly relaxed and entered the car. He scanned his ID card on the Identification Display.

“It seems I have to get used to those things.” The Martian said. “Even if they are relatively harmless.”

The Gladios were rather harmless – to Martians. They were devastating to other Hunters however. The fact that this Martian knew about Hunters’ relations spoke volumes as to the type of person he was.

“They can still kill.” Roe said, staring the Martian down. “If needed.”

The Martian – beamed. “They said your accent cannot be understood. I am glad they were wrong.”

“They?”

“My teachers.” The man said, sitting down on a double sided seat, facing her. He took off his black furred hat, resembling more of a helmet, and placed it on the seat beside him. He had disheveled brown hair, cut short. The rest of his attire resembled that of Stix’s perfectly. The man started tending to his mask, cleaning it and replacing filters, a task that always seemed so tedious to Roe. The Martian worked unfazed by Roe’s presence – he knew she couldn’t harm him.

It seemed her initial suspicions were correct. Only the foolhardiest of Martians would brave mother’s treacherous home – this man had to be a Miner.

“A Miner.” Roe said with a tone of indifference.

The Martian smiled. “My teachers also said, you and your people were imbeciles. Incapable of rational thought.”

She let out a jovial huff at that. This seemed to shock the Miner even more than having a Gladio aimed at his head. “I know what your people think of us Miner.” Roe said. “I am as unfazed by them, as you are by my Gladio.”

The Martian smiled, leaning down and ringing his gloved fingers. “I have never met one of your kind Hunter. It is truly remarkable seeing someone so at ease with their surroundings.” He looked outside, at the vast red planes. “Especially when their surroundings happen to be as unhospitable as the surface of Mars.”

“I have met several Miners.” Roe said. Her posture had not changed since the Miner entered the car. She leaned on her right elbow, her left hand resting atop her propped knee. “You are the first to talk to one of us with such levity.”

It seemed every word she said made him more excited. Her indifference with the man started to grow into annoyance. Who was he to –

“Can I ask you a question?” The Martian blurted out.

Now it was Roe’s turn to be surprised. This man was so eager, was he that excited at meting one of the Catevra? She wondered how she might appear to him, no mask, smooth tanned skin, short white hair. She knew what other Martians called her: a lab rat, waste of Cassis, a failed experiment. This man however seemed all too eager to talk to her, whereas the others couldn’t wait to get away. She waved her hand for him to proceed.

“I’ve heard that all hunters have their hair dyed white. Why is that?”

What a peculiar question. “For a Catevra, white is a symbol of courage. One has to be courageous to bear mother’s trials.”
He started tapping and swiping his fingers in the air, obviously working on his Display. Barely looking at her. The man quickly nodded, vigorously moving his fingers through the air. Roe’s annoyance returned.

He suddenly stopped, hands held floating in mid-motion. “Oh. I apologize.” He quickly swiped his entire hand through the air, the motion to dismiss one’s Display. He leaned on his elbows again. “You see; this is my first expedition outside my dome. And I can’t believe my good fortune in crossing an actual Hunter.”

Oh, Mother. This boy was a total novice. Roe was surprised he survived this long without –

Her Display suddenly popped in front of her. Flashing red.

[DANGER. Dust Devil approaching. ETA 5 minutes.]

They both jumped, slamming against the windows. “This…this is impossible…” She heard the Martian quaver. She couldn’t feel annoyance towards the man any longer. Only sympathy. He was going to die here, on his first outing, with her.
A massive sand storm was getting closer and closer to their train car - a Dust Devil.

“The weather prognosis said nothing about a Dust Devil!” The Martian shouted, pounding his gloved hands against the windows.

He was right. There was no warning of one appearing today. That was the reason why she chose today to hunt in the first place. But one appearing while she was away from shelter? In a moving train car of all places? Mother must be playing a cruel joke on her – she was always so cruel, her mother…

Fear. Fear like she had never felt before, not even in her Molding, started to take hold of her. She turned, meeting the Martian’s eyes. He started crying. The Dust Devil was mere minutes away from hitting them.

“Come here!” Roe shouted to the distressed Martian. He reacted surprisingly quick. “Move aside. Lay next to me. I’ll try to protect you.”

Roe laid down on the metallic train car floor, the Martian situating himself right in front of her. She put her arms and legs around him. Initialize Defense System. Her clothing became armor, and she squeezed tightly. Apparently too tight as the man started to breathe sharply, she loosened her grip.

“You’re…so tall…” She heard the man whisper. Obviously trying to ease his mind from the situation they were in.
“What’s your name?” Roe asked.

“J-J-Jax.”

“My name is Roe, Jax. I apologize for my mother’s barbarity. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

She got out her protective foil, that she kept in case of emergencies, and covered his oxygen mask with it, placing it as precisely as she could. The likelihood of them surviving was slim to none. But better to die from a blow to the head, than from suffocation. The Martian immediately understood what she was trying to do, and adjusted the protective foil. He nodded in what she assumed was thanks.

Send emergency message to Matron Dia. Content, Dust Devil. She prodded her Display. The confirmation beep was a slight sign of relief – before the world turned upside down.

And blackness blanketed her view.