Dark Drifters Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Someone to trust in

There was a muffled noise as a bolt of energy tore through its target, much to Aeryn`s surprise the thugs friend, who had just been threatening her fell to the floor lifeless
"What the hell?" The surviving thug shouted as Aeryn lunged at him, she spotted he was carrying a sidearm and tried to grab it, however the second thug was strong and soon both were struggling for control of the weapon. Aeryn wasn’t prepared to loose however and kicked the thug hard in the leg making him release his grip on the weapon for a moment, it was all she needed however and as he brought his hands back to try and take the weapon Aeryn fired a fatal shot into the thug’s chest killing him instantly.

The entire incident had taken Aeryn of guard and allowed someone to come up behind her, as her instincts kicked back in she swung the weapon around and was greeted not by another thug but by the slightly shocked face of her uncle Sol.
“Don’t shoot” he said putting his hands up. "Just came to make sure you were alright, you want a ride?”  
Aeryn dropped the pistol to the ground and nodded.
"Yeah..we could use one." Xilon quietly answered as he was held onto Aeryn`s arm.. Though he was still shaken, and still dazed he managed to stand on his own after a few moments using the wreckage of the car to lean.  
"You playing guardian Precursor now?" Aeryn asked as she turned back to Sol, upon seeing he had a modified Blaster on his back it had become obvious he had been following them and had just saved them both.
"I just noticed that after you two left what was left of the bar, a group of thugs seemed pretty intent on finding you, I think you would agree I made the right choice to follow them”
Aeryn nodded but felt angry with herself for getting nearly killed by a couple of low rate thugs. “I appreciate the assist but this is a dangerous place even for an ex S.O.U member, what if they came after you?”  
Sol sighed then placed a hand on her shoulder “I gave Sev my word I’d do my best to watch out for you, that’s not something I can or would go back on"

Aeryn went silent and looked at Xilon unable to think of what to say, he was the closest person she had left to a father and she couldn’t risk him getting involved in her life. "He looks like he could be hurt worse then he looks, better get him checked out or the wound could become infected without treatment, can we catch a ride with you Sol?"
"Sure, but I’m not sure what we can do with your friends car, or the one that was tailing you”
"Just leave it." Xilon said he didn’t  really didn't want to, but he had no option right now, "It'll be too much of a hassle to flip and tow. Besides...I don't want this wound getting any worse than it is. I think my well-being is more important than a pile of metal right now."
Sol nodded and walked Xilon to his car: a green and grey all terrain vehicle with modified weapons from wasteland machine guns to a Metalhead mortar. The car was clearly designed or had been modified to be all terrain with three seats one leading a turret, sand friendly tires and amour that could shrug off a heavy explosive round with ease, it also had a strange symbol painted on it in white, a circle with two horn shapes.

Xilon despite his wounded condition and the pain he felt setting in from his wound took a good glance at Sol's vehicle and took a mental note of some of the major appearance points, mainly the strange symbol. His curiosity only showed in his eyes and the few short moments he spent looking at it, since he wouldn't ask about it. "You have one amazing ride.." he'd state to Sol, rather impressed with the car as a whole.                                                

"Thanks, I can tell from the tone in your voice as well as your own ride you’re a racer with an eye speed, this rig might not be a bullet but she sure can take one"

Aeryn meanwhile was disposing of the thugs body’s, she placed them both inside their own car then set the weapon cache to overload, ensuring that the car and body’s would be completely destroyed.
It was a grim task but she couldn’t afford to leave any traces with a bit of luck it would seem that both party’s had been involved in a neutral pursuit resulting in the wreaks.  
Once she had returned Sol climbed into the vehicle having helped Xilon in and activated the controls as Aeryn took the gunner seat which doubled as a normal passenger seat when not under attack. The car displayed a 3D hologram readout of fuel, damage and weapons as Sol started it up and engaged the armour so that no one would spot Xilon as they sped to their destination.  

"If you can drop me in the Fifth sector, north end...the quiet part of town, that’s home, I can treat this wound myself as long as I'm there. I don't trust anywhere else right now. Seeking medical aid anywhere else could be dangerous”
Aeryn was quiet on the way back, her mind was still racing just hours ago everything had been so simple, now this man had come into her life and for the first time for someone outside her family she felt she didn’t want to leave him or see anything bad happen to him.
"Ok where here I think" Sol called out after a while; Aeryn was so deep in thought she hadn’t even realized they had been moving.
"Yeah, this is it. Thanks for the lift" Xilon said as he climbed out of the car Aeryn making sure he didn’t bang his head on the roll barred roof. Xilon would leave the vehicle, half stumbling, but he was able to keep himself up so long as he ignored his injury the best he could.

"I feel I owe you a lot.." he'd look back to speak to Sol directly, and felt in debt to him for the rescue, "If you need anything. You know where to find me." He then turned “Aeryn...the same goes to you. I owe you too, you both saved  someone  you didn’t have to tonight, that means a lot in my mind, feel free to stop by sometime."

He'd then turn and head inside his small dimly lit house. However, the door had a strange locking mechanism on it that could only be opened by him and him alone. It was entirely custom built, of his own design. He'd place a hand on the panel and would send a flash of yellow eco into the sensor. The door unlocked  and opened automatically. The rest of the house seemed to light up and seemed directly linked to the use of eco over the sensor. It seemed odd that a mere combat racer would have so much technology, or even bother implementing it if he were only here to make a quick buck from the races.

"Interesting setup" Sol said looking at the strange Ecopower devices.
Aeryn was more concerned with Xilon seeing him now start to sway back and forth "Xilon, why don’t you let me take care of that wound, I’ve had some experience with wounds and medicine and I’m sure I could stop that before it gets any worse" Her words were strong but also had an underline of compassion.
Xilon looked back though his eyes were starting to get fuzzy "I've got it, really.." He didn't want to be a burden to either one of his new allies. But unfortunately right as he said this, he flinched in pain as a fresh wave flushed over him. "On second thought, I could use a hand inside...you're both welcome in.."

Sol would hand something to Aeryn and then stay back "Aeryn I’m sure will be of use I’m afraid I would only get in the way. You take care of each other, I have to get back before it gets too late, the city at night is no place to be traveling”  
Sol felt a little bad about leaving but knew Aeryn could take care of herself, even if her apparent detachment from violence was showing more and more. He himself had to return home, the Baron had been making threats of forcing them out and Sol wasn’t going to let that happen.
Aeryn said her goodbye and after Sol had left sat Xilon down taking the small package Sol had given her, it turned out to be a med pack that was filled with medicines that her aunty Athena had created from ancient recipes of her people.  

"Take it easy your wound is worse than I thought" She lightly wrapped a cloth around his wound and dapped a herbal green Eco compound on it, the powerful substance would help the healing
"You didn't need to do all of this for me.." Xilon weakly said allowing her to patch the wound, "I seriously could've gotten it." His voice turned to a half joking tone, knowing he wouldn't have right away. After a moment’s pause he continued, "Thank you again.."
Aeryn let a small smile go across her face, a rare sight from her but something inside of her mind felt comfortable with Xilon, "Your welcome now just let it heal for a while; I guess we could talk to pass the time"

Xilon really didn't want to stay in one place, but he'd take the moment to rest despite what he wanted. "Well..what exactly is it you want to talk about? I'm not that interesting a person." He smiled as he said the last past in a joking tone.
"A combat racer who burns down bars with eco powers and has a house that looks like something out of a sci fi holonovel, yeah not that interesting at all mm?" Aeryn would use the same semi joke tone in her reply.

"Alright fine, you got me there." Xilon smirked, "But I don’t have Eco powers, I just know how to use eco..and I'm quite fond of harnessing it's power for many things be it defence or locking up the place! The mechanisms here are all of my own design...based after some ancient format I found in some precursor ruins. I just..moderized it."
"Well your certainly a man of many talents, I`ll give you that I can see there’s a lot you hide under the cloak women must find you quite attractive.”
"Well, I’ve not known many, I haven’t had time for it really,  Just like how I treat my race fans, I leave them behind, at the track or...bar..or..wherever. Sure I've gotten to know a few, but. None have really...interested me. It's not that I don't like them...I simply have a fear. Anytime I get to trust someone, they stab me in the back..or take everything from me. Just how things roll...so I keep my heart in a box, locked tight, with the key hidden someplace no one will ever find." He'd sigh, "Women are the least of my concerns anyway."

Aeryn looked at him then dropped her head slightly "I know how that feels, but you can’t keep your heart always locked away, sooner or later it’ll tear you apart. Things always catch up to you, the one thing you can never hide from is your own sins" her face now looked sorrow filled again. "Sorry I shouldn’t really say that to someone I just met, forget I said anything"

"In the short time we've talked...it looks like you could actually use a friend to confide in. I saw the signs back at the bar..and this..this just makes me more curious." He bettered his posture a little bit, "I have respect for one's inner feelings and history...and treat it the same as I'd like mine to be. Anything you tell me I'll take to the grave. Trust me or not...I don't like to see a lady in anquish."
"I don’t have any friends, I have mentors, colleagues, backup, no one I could call a friend. Most people just fear me, closest thing I have to friends or family are my cousins and my uncle Sol, Its a long bitter story that brought me to where I am now"
Her voice was now very different the solid cold strength had given way to someone more venerable and more real.

He'd watch her for a moment or two, before gently placing a hand on her shoulder, "Sounds like you could use a friend then, don't you think?" he'd give her a light smile, "We both walk a dark path...things are just easier if you can have someone to turn to I guess. I already trust you...for how you helped me back there. I know I haven't exactly done anything for you but, you can trust me I promise. We should stick together..city's a dangerous place alone anyway."