Lost
@nitro-rocket
Delta Drop held his ray gun in his hand as he pressed through the ache in his hip, the joint crying out as he kept walking. It was going to get dark soon and he had to find where Omega had run off too. It had just been him, Omega Blue and Gamma Ray when they had been ambushed by a bunch of dracs and split up. Gamma had gone for help, but hadn’t come back.
The dracs had been taken care of, but Omega Blue had split, the kid had a habit of trying to lead dracs off and dispatch them when he got the best chance. Though this was a solid technique, it often ended up in Omega disappearing. Generally someone would follow him, but in the rush Delta didn’t have the mind too.
That lead him to now, looking for tracks in the ever changing sand and wishing he had just waited where they had separated as the cold slipped past his red leather jacket. His wolf mask was keeping his face warm at least. His heavy boots sank a little too much in the sand, but still he pressed on.
He wasn’t dumb enough to call out and draw attention to himself, alone and limping in the middle of the zone. He sighed, stopping for a moment to look around, peering at the sun through callused fingers before shaking his head and giving up. He sighed, turning and heading towards where he knew the road was and hoping Omega had the same sense.
Nitro Rocket gripped the steering wheel as hard as they could, their own velocity filling them with excitement and adrenalin. They sung along along to the songs that played on their radio. They were in a great mood until they saw a figure, stumbling along beside the road far, far ahead of them. They began to slow down.
Delta Drop heard the vehicle before he saw it, stopping and looking around. He must have looked like a meerkat on lookout, eyes narrowing as he spotted the dot barreling towards him. His fingers twitched around the handle of his gun as he stared, continuing his drudging pace and keeping his eyes set firmly on the vehicle ahead. Airing on the side of Caution wasn’t the most like him, but he had to when he was alone like this.
As Nitro got closer, they saw the person was alone and had nothing with them but a gun. They stopped a few hundred meters from the person and sat, wondering if they should try to help them or even just talk to them.
Delta stayed as casual as he could, trying to cover up his limp with a sly smirk. Though he knew that never worked, not everyone on the road had bad intentions and he knew that but some did. He kept the gun in his hand, watching the vehicle stop and kept going forward, trying to seem like he was hardly paying them any mind. Save for the staring.
Nitro sat there for a good few minutes. Eventually, they got out of the car and began walking towards the other person. They cupped their hands around their mouth. “Hey! You alright?!” They shout.
Delta stopped, waving at the person with his free hand as he watched them grow closer. Nerves flirted over his skin as he started walking towards them, shouting “Yeah! I’m fine!” He called back, waving a few more times before putting his hand down and picking up the pace to half jog over. “Hey, yeah sorry. ” he spoke quickly. “I’m okay, just looking for a friend. Have you seen a little guy, about this high, has a wolf mask like mine?” He spoke fast, lips curling into a little smile as he gestured to about where Omega came up to.
“No, sorry.” They shrug. “I was heading to a gas station up the road a bit. I think I left some food there when I went earlier. You’re welcome to come with and look around there.” They say, jabbing a thumb behind them towards their car.
Delta gave a long look to the car before glancing at the person for a moment, he nodded. “Sure, Why not.” He nodded, figuring if the need be he was fit enough to be able to take the other down. “Guess I should-” he hummed, shoving his gun into his holster roughly and offering a hand for the other to shake. He smiled warmly, charm dripping off his voice as he introduced himself. “I’m Delta Drop, Call me Delta.”
“Nitro Rocket.” They say, shaking the others hand. “Nitro for short.” They begin walking back towards their car, gesturing for Delta to follow. “So, how long ’ve you been out here?” They ask, just as they get to the driver’s seat door.
Delta grinned lightly, following them after a moment of contemplation. “A good while actually,” He answered, keeping it as vague as he could. “Wonderful to meet you Nitro Rocket. Cool name, makes mine seem like a little girl’s.” He chuckled, pausing in front of the passenger’s side door.
“Really? I never really liked it that much. Thought it was cool when I first came up with it though.” They smile to themself. “Where was the last place you saw your friend? I can take you ‘round there after if you want.” They swing themself into the driver seat, and turn the key that they left on their seat.
“Back the way I had come and south, but he wouldn’t have stuck around for much longer. We had gotten separated by some Dracs, He ran off trailed by a couple and when I went to see where he had gone off to, they were blasted to hell and back and his prints were heading towards the road, then they stopped.” Delta slipped into the passenger seat, tapping the arm rest as he spoke. He spoke quickly, looking up into nothing as he thought. “He wouldn’t stay on the road for long, he’s not exactly the uh…He’s easy to pick on.”
“They just stop? Disappear? Strange things happen in the desert.” They trail off. “I’m sure you’ll have better luck than me though! I’m the human equivalent of walking under a ladder!” They laugh. “Anywhere you wanna look on the way to the servo?”
“I wouldn’t be half shocked if a cloud reached down and plucked them up to be honest.” Delta laughed softly, shaking his head. “They have a tendency to uh…just poof sometimes.” He admitted. “It’s a wonder how with that giant guitar strapped to their back.” He muttered the last bit before pausing and shaking his head. “Well, I don’t know. I think I’ll just keep an eye on the sides of the road and then plan something once we get to the gas stop?”
“Sounds good.” Nitro steps on the accelerator. “If you want me to pull over let me know. Just in case ya see somethin’.” They say casually. “The station isn’t too far up ahead.”
“Mkay.” Delta popped his lips, smile sitting on his lips. He loved car rides, no matter the context. He felt tempted to stick his whole head out window and feel the wind in his hair, but restrained himself to keep an eye out for his friend, tapping the arm rest. “You got a radio?” He asked.
“Uh, yeah on the back-seat.” They look behind them briefly. “Not sure what channel it’s on. Why’d ya need it anyway?”
“Just curious.” Delta hummed, tapping a stray beat. He bit his lip and looked out at the horizon. “By the way, I don’t think I said thanks.” He mused. “Thank you, Nitro.” He looked over at them for a moment with a smile.
“Don’t mention it.” They wave their hand carelessly. “I met my other friend around this road. I think it was around where you were too. Small zone.”
“Make a lot of friends by picking them up?” He raised his eyebrow softly, chuckling. “Gotta be careful if that’s your method. Never know who’s friendly now a days.”
“Only one. Pulled over by the road and scared shitless. Said it was someone on the radio. Couldn’t even walk they were so scared.” They say, recalling what happened only a few days ago. “I know I shouldn’t do it. I should just keep driving but it’s like I can’t. It’s like I have to help them. Y'know?”
“Nah I get it. The world needs your type more than ever. My crew does the same when we can, taken falls for it more than once. It’s rewarding when it doesn’t bite you in the ass.” Delta nodded, running a hand through his hair and fixing the thick plastic mask over his face. “Did you find out who got them so…rustled?” He asked.
“They said it was an old friend. BLI turned ‘em into an exterminator.” They shrug. “I think they were on the radio to Bullet. My friend. Threatening them, y'know, the usual BLI stuff.”
Delta sucked his teeth shaking his head slowly. “Terrible.” He hummed pausing. “Omega better be being smart, freaks me out when he’s out here alone.” He spoke quickly, scanning the road ahead.
“I’m sure they can handle themselves. Won’t survive long out in the zones if you can’t. Especially not alone.” They say, keeping their eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Sorry. That’s not helping.” They look down a little. “Station’s just up ahead. Seen anything?”
Delta made his mouth into a line and nodded, he knew they were right. He knew that Omega was a tough kid and could handle himself, but that didn’t stop him from worrying. “No. Not yet.” He sighed deeply, running his hand through his hair again. “Thank you again, you can just drop me off here and I’ll figure it out.”
“You sure? I can take you ‘round a bit more after I grab my stuff, if you want.” They say. “I really don’t mind. I could talk to my friend, we might be able to organise you staying with us for a while?”
Delta looked at the other through the holes in his mask, side eyeing him heavily. He chewed his lip for a second before nodding with a sigh. “Sounds good, No offence but I want to get back to my crew as soon as I can but I won’t say no to a warm place to stay until I can find Omega.”
