Futuristic \\Star Crossed//

[SparksFly]

"Engineer!" A voice called out as the door swung open to a homey looking auto store settled between a struggling bakery and a small bar. The front of the shop was mostly all just a front, made to look like some little shop where you could get spare parts for your car, or go around to the garage and get a tune up. But past a few doors, and there was a whole den of men and women, all probably involved in one or more crimes.

Down there you would find a bar, a place to eat, something like a gentlemen's club would be best to stay away from, and many people who normally would be glad to stab you in the back. However if you are down there, then you are home. A place that social outcast and unlawful degenerates go for peace and sanctuary. One would think that the place would be full of violence and hatred, but on the contrary, not one single fight has ever broken out here. The people here were probably the most friendliest thugs you would ever meet, and were some of the only people you would see genuinely sharing others company, and living in a brotherhood. It was almost ironic, the way that the outside world would tear itself apart over a few dollars, but in here, a den full of thieves and murders, things where all right with the world.

The man who just walked in had his face obscured by a biker helmet, tinted in the visitor. His leather jacket was torn apart at his left arm and as a matter in fact, the arm was not there either, instead in it's place, wires and jagged shards of metals dangled there

"Dang it Tinman, do you know how expensive these parts are to replace?"A large burly man with a booming voice shouted.

"Not a replace, a repair." The Tinman said as he held up the severed arm, waving it at him like a greeting."Shouldn't be too hard Boo Bear."

"Good god you son of...just go bring the bounty into Styx. I'll go get my tools."The man said before storming off.

Jack shrugged and stepped through a door that was covered by red curtains and beads, to meet this man they called Styx.

At the end of a cozy looking room decorated with neon lights and stoner posters was the man that was running it all, Styx. The man was not a human. Maybe at one point he was, but now he is just a metal skeleton. Literally. Overtime the man replaced ever last fiber of his being, even down to his brain, with some sort of cybernetic. Now is just this never aging metal skeleton, wearing neon pink shutter shades, a backwards baseball cap that had the m&m's logo on it, and a pair of cargo shorts. The metal man rested on a large heart shaped bed with leopard print sheets, acting as sort of a throne.

"Jaaaaack how are you been a moment since I seen you. I heard Boo Bear shouting and I just knew you had returned, missing an arm and bringing me a complete bounty. I am correct in all areas I assume?"He said through his skeletal jaws with an electronic voice.

"Got it right here." Jack said as he dug around his jacket and pulled out a jar full of ash. Styx picked it up and examined it, scanning it with his glowing eyes.

"Hmmm yep that's the sorry thug alright. You are getting pretty invintave with the way you handle these contracts...." He while adding the jar of ashes to a shelf. "You know one day you could bring someone in alive..."

Jack shrugged and opened his mouth to say something before a large hand clasped his shoulder and shoved him into a seat."Now hold still."Boo Bear said as he started whipping out tools and going to work on his arm.

"It's just easier that way I guess..." Jack said."And they deserve it...you know how I feel about them."

"You where not like that when I first came across you..."

"I guess things just change. I mean, when I was a kid I thought I would grow up to be an explorer in space and get off this rock and see something new, I was content with that. Then I grew up to be a construction worker, and I was content with that. Now well...I guess I'm a murderer."

Styx stood up from his bed and looked Jack up and down before picking up a hookah and taking a deep breath of it, the smoke could be seen going down his throat, and pouring out his metal ribs and clouding his face, his green glowing eyes glimmering past the vapor."Are you content with that?"He asked. Jack gave no response, and just started forward, happy that his helmet was concealing the festering look on his face. Styx tilted his head a little and stepped closer to Jack, looking at his chest."What happened here?"He said as he dabbed his finger on a hole his chest, and staining it with a little bit of his blood.

"Oil leak?" Jack asked.

"Blood. Come now Tinman, surely it hasn't been that long since you have bled. I told you that you should not have shut off your pain receptors, you'll never know when you are badly hurt." Styx said as he whipped his off."Boo Bear, hurry that up and get the healer for that bullet wound."

"Healer?" Jack asked.

"You ain't seen it yet? Been here a while, but I guess you would not have needed it's service."

By the way he identified this healer as an 'it' he knew that they where not human."Since when did we condone slavery?"

"It's not slavery. What it's got in here is far better then what it could have out there. Out there it would be crawling on the streets getting sick hungry and lonely no doubt. I make sure that we feed it and give it a nice place to stay, least I could do."

"...I don't like the sound of that. I thought we where a place to hobor poor souls, this is just out of character."

"I don't remember asking how you like the sound Jack. Now you shut up or you can keep that bullet wound."

Jack grimaced a little rested his back against the chair and let Boo Bear finish. He sure had more he wanted to say but if he wanted to live he would presumably need to keep quite. It was only a few more moments before Boo Bear was done with the job, and packing up his tools."Alright let me go get that mongrel..."

"Boo Bear..."Styx said." Be a bit more gentle this time will you."

"Not my fault it needs to learn some respect."

"I understand but a healer needs to be in a good state of mind to work, if you set her off too much, then it's just gonna be that much harder to get what I paid for. Got it?"

Boo Bear looked away with a bit if a frustrated face before saying,"I will do my best." And storming off to get her

Jack raised his fixed arm a few times to test it out before taking off his helmet and setting it the table next to him, his face obviously a little irritated."

"Ay, I know that look. You got some opinions."Styx said.

"I'll keep them until after I'm healed." Jack mumbled.

The response got a bit of a mechanical chuckle out of Styx as he returned to his seat."Just how I like it."

 

[SilverRose]

Paliden had been in her room looking into a small cracked mirror to fix her hair. All of her jewlery that was passed down through generations where taken so she no longer had the golden strands around her neck or head. Her dark blue fur robes she came here in were also taken away they had then replaced it with a shirt that wasn't even a shirt. It was just bandages wrapped around her chest. And then she had on some type or jogging pants that were to big for her.

Paliden really regrets ever coming to earth. She left the wonderful planet of Leurn for "adventure" and now she is a slave. She is now forced to use her magic almost every day and it drains her with every use they don't let her get sunlight and she needs it to recharge properly.

But she would never fight them so she just sat in her room looking over her blue skin. Wondering why she must do this as once of the men she worked for came in and grabbed her. She didn't know anyone's name she just knew faces.

He grabbed her by her horns that stemmed from her head. Her race was taller than most so she was a bit taller than the man but he pulled her by the antlers anyways making her lean down. It was very uncomfortable as she was brought into the room she needed to be in. The man then through her to the ground and she quickly picked herself up she was 6'3 so it looked very odd when she stood. She had tears in her eyes but fought them away as she waited for instructions.

 

[SparksFly]

Jack shot a glance to Boo Bear as he tossed the alien to the ground. He had known these people for a while now, never even afraid to call them friends, but some kind of darker side to them was starting to surface. And that's a lot coming from people who could easily be called murderers.

Styx opened up Jacks jacket and pointed out the bullet wound."My man managed to get shot in the one place that matters, and we aren't ready to pay anymore hospital bills. Do you think you can manage?"He asked her with a bit of a calm yet demanding tone.

Jack looked up at her and in the eye, something most humans probably would not do. He had seen plenty of her kind before, he even had to kill one in the past. He felt bad for them, their kind are honest and kind, and had no way of knowing that they would be the perfect target human corruption and greed. Though he would never outright say that, as he was only one if a handful of people who thought that way

 

[SilverRose]

Paliden nodded not speaking a words before her eyes and forehead markings began to glow a bright yellow. She said under her breath something in another language and soon she had the bullet in her hand and the hole had closed up put it left a scar.

Paliden looked at the scar shocked and scared. The last time she left a scar there she was kicked till she bled. With her not getting sunlight her magic is weaker and not fully healing. She looked at the man whom had brought her in expecting a big uproar that was soon to come.

The man looked onto the person Paliden was healing and saw the scar. Soon she was on the ground being kicked hard. She was continued to be kicked until she was spitting up some purple liquid only to be guessed it's blood. They treated her terribly in this place but she never fought back.

 

[SparksFly]

Jack tensed up just a little as she began to light up and speak in a foreign tongue but his unease was quickly replaced with a sense of calm as her powers worked through him. He could feel the wound closing and it was strange but not alarming. Before he knew it, there was no wound on him and he was just fine. He took a deep breath and nodded at her."Thank you."He said. Saying think you to her kind was yet again, not something every human would do.

"The hell?..." Boo Bear said as he looked over the scar on Jack's check."This waste of air left a mark! Finish the job fool!"He shouted as he clasped his hand on her head and began kicking at her ribs and stomach.

Jack quickly stood up from his chair before Styx gave him a stern look."Something wrong Tinman?"

"This isn't right Styx and you know it. You built this place to free outsiders not cage them!"

"In any other situation I would agree but this money we are talking about, and you know how I feel about money."

Jack looked back at the alien being kicked before him and without much hesitation he placed a arm on Boo Bears chest and violantly threw him back, unaware of the strength his cybernetics gave him, he smacked him against the wall behind them.

"That's enough!" Jack shouted.

Boo Bear slowly got to his feet, dazed by the sudden attack, but despite that he looked pissed.

"You piece of scrap I-" The large man was saying until Styx interjected.

"Boo Bear, leave." He said. The man stared up at him in confusion but soon left.

"Going soft on me Jack?"

"It isn't that Styx, I'm just doing what I think is right, and this ain't right. You and me where once in her place, and I thought we aimed to help those in need...i just don't get it."

"Do you see all those people out there Jack?" Styx said."How do you think I earn their respect? A bunch if murders and thieves don't bow their knees to anyone who can't show a little bit of ruthlessness. It's kind is expandable, and at the bottom of our food chain. Ain't nobody going to say anything if I toss it around too much. Except you I guess. Go on, see what I mean. Beat it down some more. It deserves it after leaving that scar on you."

"You want me too...no Styx I can't."

"I was not asking Jack. Are you starting to become unreliable to me? You know I put ever last bit of you back together, and I can just as easily take every last but if you apart." He said with a mechanical growl.

Jack stared at him for a moment and then back down to the woman. It was a rather hard choice, but he was already trying to think of a way to get her out of this situation, but unfortunately if he was going to do anything he would need to stay in Styx's favor for now.

He gave her a look for a second, his eyes said I'm sorry before his foot swung through the air and kicked her down again, just hard enough to hurt, but if he kicked with his full potential, he would have killed her.

"There you go. Won't even put a fight. It's insignificant, nothing you to to it will change the world, it's fine. Now get out of here, take her back to her room while you are at it. Third door to the left down the hall."

Jack stared at him for a moment with a complex mixture if emotions before lifting her off the ground and onto her feet.

He walked out of the room with her before whispering in her ear,"I dont know if you understand my language or not but if you do, I am going to try and get you out of this. I know a guy who owes me a favor, and might be able to get you off this planet and into safety. But I need time to work out a plan, until then, please just hold out for me.. "Jack said as he opened her door." You have my word, I'll get you our of this."

 

[SilverRose]

The blood from her mouth had poured down her neck and shirt as she was kicked down by the mam she had just healed. She would have just let him die if it wouldn't mean her own death as well. Though at this point she was beginning to consider it. She has healing abilities but they cannot be used on her own body so she must suffer the pain until it naturally heals. But she would never fight back her race was peaceful luckily most of them have been escaping back to their home planet. There are still a few left the ones like her the ones hidden away.

As the man she believed was by the name Jack walked her back to her room she was barley awake. She didn't understand English perfectly but she believes she understood the meaning of his words and she nodded. Soon she was standing back infront of her small sad room. No windows, no bed, no blanket or pillow. There was a makeshift hairbrush, a small mirror, and a toilet that was all.

She walked back into her room and after a few steps, falling to her knees from blood loss. She gets herself to the wall so she can lean against it so she won't choke on the purple blood incase she passes out. She just wants to be home where she never even got hit by her parents. As she begins to think of home a few tears roll down her face.

 

[SparksFly]

Jack closed the door behind her and took a deep breath. This was all new to him. He was no where near a morally righteous person, but he knew this was unnecessary. All he ever knew for the last few years was being loyal to Styx and this gang, but this one thing might change that. He always thought they where the one's to unshackle the chains, but if they lost their way then he had no interest in following anymore.

Hopefully, if he could work quick enough, she would only have to suffer a little longer. Jack had a bit of a plan, maybe not a good one, but a plan none the less, but he would have to rest a little, he just came back from taking out a bounty, and he knew she was hardly in a condition to go any further right now.

So he retired to his quarters and the day was soon over and the next one was beginning, and Jack made sure to be up bright and early.

He got his things together and headed outside to an anyway nearby, already initiating his plan. He opened a garbage bin and sifted around for a moment until he found a empty glass bottle."There we go..."He said to himself.

"He you!" Called out to a man walking by.

The man stopped and looked at him confused before Jack smashed the end of a the bottle and created a shank from it.

"Here, stab me." He said as he handed him the bottle.

"I uh what n-"

"Stab...me"

"Sir I don't think I."

Jack shoved the bottle in the man's hand and pressed his arm forward, jabbing the sharp glass into the center of his chest, but didn't flinch at all.

"Thank you good sir, mertian, on with your day."Jack said as he yanked the bottle out and watched the man flee in horror." Must have never stabbed someone before..."He mummbled as he quickly went back inside. The place was a little calm with the morning just now coming until he banged in Boo Bears door."Boo Bear I got in a fight outside and was stabbed, grab that damn healer for me!"

"Again?! I swear you-" He shouted as he started ranting off a series of curses and ranrs before throwing the door open, wearing nothing but his pajamas.

"Morning, I'll be waiting in the back...I don't want Styx to find out about this he would be pissed."

"I'm pissed..."Boo Bear growled as he rushed into the healers room." Wake up!"He shouted at her before grabbing her again by the horns and yanking her to her feet.

He dragged her down the halls, and to the back storage room where it was rather empty and devoid of people roaming about."Alrigjt Jack I-"

Before he could finish his sentence Jacks hand wrapped around his face and threw him against the wall. Before he had time to recover, Jack's hand clasped around his neck, pitching down on his sides into a choak hold. The man kicked around violantly for a few minutes before slowly going limp. He was only left unconscious, Jack couldn't bring himself to kill him despite everything.

He quickly rushed to the alien woman and dragged back to her feet."Are you alright? In afraid we don't have much time to go, can you walk?"

 

[SilverRose]

She looks really confused and speaks back in an unrecognizable language. She doesn't quite understand English she only knows a few words. She looked so mortified and scared of everything going on. She starts to back herself away lowering down her head to him. She sees the gash and understands she needs to heal. She tries to get her powers to work but her lights are so dim she falls to her knees from weakness. She looks a little light in her skin pigment as well. Instead of the normal blue grey color it is just grey.

She looks at the man in the room with sad eyes covering her face and tensing up as she is expecting a beating. She is always so scared being brought out of that room. She needs nutrients and sunlight but other than that she feels sick. Sometimes there is a little sliver of light which makes her feel a little better.

All the young alien knows is she is stuck. She lost her womanhood when her jewlery and clothes was stolen from her. When the young alien girls would become a woman they would get jewlery depending on their family. The clothing was also a dress made of material softer than silk and a cloak also make from the silk and lining with fur. So if she returned how she is now she would look dirt poor. Then what would be the point because she wouldn't be able to find love that way to make a family.

Though in this exact moment she doesn't understand anything. She just understands she can't heal, a human is speaking and is hurt, and she is going to be beaten. She hates her fate in life.