There was no heat, electricity or running water almost anywhere in the city, but they were near the river. The quality of the water for drinking was questionable. Rainwater was safer depending how it was collected. Food was scarce, but there were still fish in the river and the lake, sewer rats, and small animals. Grown over lots and greenways provided certain edible plants for those who knew what to look for.
Occasional gunfire could be heard in the distance, and small groups of gang members patrolled the streets of their territory. No place was truly safe.
The cyborgs waited outside the building while James and Danya went inside to talk to the people about moving to the Enclave. They also stopped to pick up a what few possessions that they valued. Though he hated to leave any of them, James didn’t take the entire pile of tattered books he had collected.
It didn’t take James and Danya long to convince their friends that they would have a better life in the enclave. Food, water, and a safe place for their children were more than they could hope for in the ruins of a once renowned city. Seeing their two friends in fresh, clean clothing and well rested was enough to convince them.
While those people collected their meager possessions, the cyborgs accompanied the father and daughter to two more tattered buildings. One woman didn’t want to leave because her mate was out looking for food, but with everyone else going, she was afraid to stay alone.
“Do you know where he went?” Danya asked the woman called Belle.
“I think he went to the river to fish, but I thought he would be back by now,” she said.
“We’re not leaving yet,” said Danya. “Maybe he will get back before we do. I’ll ask Vyken if we can look for him if Nick doesn’t get back soon. I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here alone, even with Nick.”
“Is there any safe place around here?” Belle asked.
They both knew the answer to that. Danya didn’t say what they were both thinking. Nick would not just leave Belle. In their late teens, they were devoted to each other, and Belle was about halfway through her first pregnancy. There was no way, Danya was leaving her there alone. Instead of just waiting, she went back outside to talk to Vyken immediately.
“I can go to the river and look for him,” he said.
“I should come with you. Nick doesn’t know you, and he would probably take one look at you and run like hell,” Danya laughed softly. “I might have done that had I been alone when you showed up.”
Vyken nodded, aware that even without weapons, he looked formidable.
It didn’t take them long to get to the river where they could see a fair distance along the banks on both sides.
“There,” Vyken said and pointed.
Danya looked in that direction. “Oh, no!” A man lay in the grass on the river bank about a hundred yards away.
Before she could bolt in that direction, Vyken gripped her upper arm. “Wait.” He scanned the area for heat signatures in case someone was lingering to prey on anyone who came along to help. The cyborg could tell the young male was alive but not in good condition.
Taking his ion rifle in hand, he put Danya at his left side to walk along the river bank, and they moved slowly toward the downed man. As they walked, Vyken scanned the area. His primary concern was an enemy with a projectile weapon. He could take many bullets and survive, but Danya couldn’t.
“It is Nick,” Danya said when they were about twenty feet away. He was laying belly down, with a gash on his head. Anything he might have had with him was gone.
“He’s injured, but his life signs are stable,” Vyken told her. “Matix will bring the transport. Jolt says we have enough people to fill it so we will take them back to the Enclave as soon as everyone is loaded.”
Meanwhile, Vyken took out a medical injector from a pouch on his belt. He had started carrying one after encountering James and Danya. He squatted down beside Nick, pushing back his shaggy dark hair, and pressed it to his neck. “The nanites will begin the healing process while we wait.” He put the injector back in the pouch and passed his hand back and forth over the young man scanning him.
“His worst injury is the head wound. He has only minor cuts and bruises elsewhere, most likely from fighting his attackers,” Vyken added and stood up beside her.
“There had to be more than one. Nick’s pretty good in a fight. He probably had a decent catch, and someone decided to take it from him. Bastards!” Danya spat out the last. “That’s the way it is here. You always have to be on alert and even then, you risk your life just to get a few pieces of food.”
“He and his mate will be safe at the Enclave. They have enough food stores to feed many until their crops are ready to harvest, but they will need help because there is no machinery to work the fields.”
“It’s better to work the fields than risk your life for a few fish or a fat sewer rat,” she said, looking up at him. “I’m glad we’re doing this.”
“I’m happy it pleases you,” he said with a faint smile that made Danya focus on his oh-so-kissable mouth, remembering his kisses.
Just thinking about it made her body react, and she felt her cheeks heat up at the memory. She turned to look out over the river, watching the water ripple in the slight breeze. Carnal thoughts were never far from the surface when she was around Vyken. It was getting harder and harder to control them. Danya was starting to realize that she didn’t really want to.”
