Chapter 5: Mad Gear


    Earlier, as Edmond and Rufus were nearing the edge of town, back in the barn, the young boy helping Levi was shaking him desperately, his voice trembling with panic.


    "Mister! Aw, jeez, c’mon, mister! If you die like this, I’m gonna get skinned. Plea—"


    "Don’t fret, child. He isn''t ready to meet his maker just yet."


    The boy froze, his heart jolting like a startled rabbit. He spun around, stumbling back, his eyes wide with fear as he tried to scream.


    Before a sound could escape, a cold, iron grip clasped his throat, cutting the breath clean out of him.


    "Hush now, little lamb."


    The distorted voice purred, low and sharp, chilling him to his core.


    "There’s no need to call your flock."


    The boy’s eyes began to tear, taking in the stranger that stood there like something torn from a nightmare. His lungs began to burn as his gaze locked onto the stranger’s face—or what should’ve been a face.


    A grotesque mask, fitted with hissing tubes and gears, covered most of the man’s head. The mask seemed alive, the faint hiss of vapor escaping from vents on its sides like a dying breath.


    But it wasn’t just the mask. His skin—what little of it remained—was a patchwork of burn scars and exposed muscle, fused with jagged bits of metal that seemed to sprout from his flesh like weeds.


    The dim moonlight caught the edge of a serrated claw attached to the man’s right arm, sparks dancing as the cruel blades clicked and flexed. His left arm wasn’t much better, a monstrous contraption of pipes, gears, and a glowing coil that hummed like a demon straight outta hell.


    ''Waster!''


    The boy’s mind exploded, a storm of panic and disbelief spinning wild. But his body couldn’t keep up. His strength gave out, and he went limp, dangling like a broken puppet from the man’s claw.


    Pulling the boy’s face close, the grotesque mask hissed as the intruder inhaled.


    "Siiinnnnn."


    His crimson eyes burned brighter, glowing like the gates of hell before he flung the boy aside. His small body slammed into the barn wall with a sickening thud, then crumbled like a wet bag.


    "Lies!"


    The Waster bellowed, his voice ringing with fury.


    "Sinners and liars!"


    Steam jetted from the vents along his shoulders as he turned toward Levi, his head tilting like a predator studying its prey.


    "They need to be forced..."


    His voice dipped suddenly into a chilling whisper, heavy with bitter resolve.


    "Forced ''til they understand."


    He reached down, claw extended to seize his prize, but Levi moved first.


    With a desperate burst of energy, he rolled to his side, his good arm snapping up to drive his bowie knife deep into the gears of the man''s elbow.


    "Liar!"


    Levi’s thumb slammed down on the switch in the hilt, triggering the burst of steam that screamed as it tore through metal and flesh. Steam and blood erupted from his elbow as Levi freed the knife, his boot came up, slamming into the Waster''s jaw and forcing him back.


    Rolling backwards to his feet with a stagger. Levi’s body swayed, drenched in sweat, but his grip on the blade was stone.


    Shaking his head, he was trying to clear the fog that clung to his mind. Everything felt wrong, like the world had gone sideways, when a child’s scream cut through the air, louder than a rattler’s warning.


    His gaze snapped to the barn door. A wisp of a girl, younger than the boy, stood there rooted in place, her mouth open in a scream that wouldn’t quit.


    She was shaking like a rabbit caught in a trap. He reckoned it must have been the boy’s sister, though there wasn’t time to dwell on it.


    The Waster turned, his bloodshot eyes zeroing in on the girl. Steam hissed from his mask as he cocked his head, the sound like the death rattle of some machine on its last legs.


    "So cometh the flock."


    He raised his clawed hand toward the child.


    "As shepherd, they will be guided to the slaughter."


    "Shit!"


    Levi’s instincts moved faster than his thoughts.


    A burst of steam shot from the Waster’s arm, his jagged claw tearing through the air like a runaway train.


    "Move!"


    Levi screamed, throwing himself forward with everything he had. His arm wrapped around the girl just as the Waster’s claw skimmed past, the broken metal ripping across his back.


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    Pain hit like a hot iron, searing straight through him, but he didn’t let go as the two of them tumbled to the dirt in a heap.


    The girl’s screams turned shriller, mixing with shouts and hollering from the distance. It was like all the noise in the world was fighting to drown him. Levi grit his teeth, his head pounding.


    He slapped the girl, not hard, but just enough.


    "Run, you halfwit!"


    He shoved her behind him. As the sprite smartly took off, his body screamed for him to stay down, but he planted a knee firm in the dirt, pushing through the fresh fire in his back.


    His jaw tightened, and he spat through clenched teeth. Whatever strength he had left, it’d have to be enough.


    Clink, clink, clink.


    The chunk of blacksteel dragged back toward the barn, a black chain pulling it through the dirt like dragging a tombstone. The Waster’s voice rose, warped with rage and desperation.


    "Why''re you all like this?! Why''d you leave me?! Why run now?! Makes no damn sense!"


    KRRAAK!


    The barn door exploded like thunder, wood splintering into shards. The Waster stepped through, twisting his grotesque claw back into place. His mask glowed red, heat pouring from the vents like a pot ready to boil.


    Levi’s gut churned, the sight setting his nerves on edge. The way the Waster moved, the way he spoke—it wasn’t natural. It was like looking at an animal that’d gone rabid, dangerous in ways you couldn’t predict. His words rambled and twisted, making about as much sense as a mule wearing Sunday shoes.


    Swallowing hard, his body screamed at him to give up, to lie down and let it end. He wasn’t fooling himself—he was in bad shape, too far gone to be of any use in a fight.


    But he couldn’t give up, not now.


    ''I need to end this! Do it quick. Only way is to let the mad bastard get close enough to risk it.''


    "Come get it then! No point waitin'' on proper!"


    Seeing the torches from town getting closer, he knew he was running outta time.


    "Crazy son of a bitch, light that furnace!"


    Both knives in hand, he did his best to make himself look easy to kill—not that it took much effort. He was already teetering.


    "Wicked lies!"


    The Waster roared, vapor burst from his joints, sparks spitting wildly from his elbow. He charged, a monster of fury and madness.


    ''One shot!''


    Levi’s mind raced, forcing his body to steady. He scanned the Waster with frantic precision, his instincts kicking in like a sixth sense. His focus narrowed to find the weak point.


    ''The mask!''


    He tightened his grip, muscles coiled as the Waster closed the gap. Just as the Waster prepared to strike—


    TING!


    A sudden bolt cracked through the air, ricocheting off his head.


    "Well, fuck! Stay still next time!"


    Rufus’s voice echoed from the dark, his words dripping with frustration. A faint red glow of his eye danced in the distance as he cursed.


    Levi’s stomach sank.


    Racing towards them, silhouetted against the red glow, an amber blur of Vaporguard closed the distance like an arrow loosed from hell. Edmond was coming.


    The Waster clutched his head, screaming into the night like a child betrayed.


    "Where were you?! Why are you here when you shouldn’t’ve left me?!"


    His voice cracked with pain, fury, and something hauntingly close to sorrow.


    "Well slap my ass Edmond! That''s Mad Gear!"


    His momentum stopped, Levi stumbled backward, his body betraying him as the last bit of the strength he''d held fizzled out. He could do nothing but watch as Mad Gear raised that twisted claw for another go.


    TWANG!


    Sparks erupted as Edmond suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his military saber grinding against Mad Gear''s arm.


    "Get back!"


    Edmond’s command was clearly meant for him, but he could barely process what was happening. His body screamed in protest as he dragged himself away. Another— TING! echoed, sparks bursting from second bolt to the Waster''s skull.


    "Stop movin''!"


    "Traitors!"


    Mad Gear roared, slamming his foot down like an enraged bull. The ground rocked, forcing Edmond to step back.


    With the newfound space, Mad Gear swung his massive claw, slamming it again. The impact sent chunks of earth and jagged stones flying.


    TING, TING, TING!


    Edmond swung his sabers in precise arcs, deflecting the incoming debris. Without hesitation, as soon as he deflected the last piece, he moved to close the distance.


    "Legs!"


    THUNK!


    A bolt immediately buried itself into Mad Gear''s thigh.


    "AHH!"


    Staggering as the pain forced him to shift his weight, Mad Gear let out a another roar, releasing a massive vent of steam straight into Edmond’s face. The scalding vapor engulfed him, forcing him to stumble back, coughing and temporarily blinded.


    At the same time, Mad Gear’s arm shot forward, gears grinding as his claw angled towards Edmond. Just as he was about to unleash whatever hell it held, a sharp THUNK! sounded—another bolt buried itself into the joint of his knee.


    Howling in pain, Mad Gear’s leg buckled. His arm jerked violently back, the mechanism firing.


    And just In that moment, a figure stumbled into Levi''s view from inside the barn—small, bloody, and wide-eyed.


    The boy.


    Levi’s heart stopped. Edmond hadn’t noticed, still blinded. The fist was coming, and it would crush the barn, and the boy with it.


    ''Hell.''


    Hating himself, Levi’s augments flickered to life, faint amber veins glowing along his chest. He had to move.


    Digging into reserves he didn''t have, his scabs and stitches ripped fresh, Levi charged, legs pumping harder than they should’ve been able. He slammed into the boy, wrapping him in a desperate tackle just as the fist came crashing down.


    The barn collapsed. A deafening roar of splintered wood and heavy beams burying them both.


    Dust hung heavy in the air, swirling thick as molasses, with faint amber and crimson glows breaking through. The screech of metal on wood tore through the wreckage as Mad Gear dragged his massive hand back with a bone-rattling CLANG.


    "Cowards! Fucking yellow bastards!"


    The Waster raged, his voice echoing like thunder.


    Rufus aimed his arm, steadying it on the glow of Mad Gear’s vaporguard within the dust and steam. Just as he lined up the shot, the light disappeared.


    "What? Hey! Fucker''s makin’ a break!"


    BOOM—ZZRRTT!


    The blast suddenly came outta nowhere, lighting up the dust cloud like a prairie fire. The sharp crackle of electricity tore through the air, bolts skipping and sparking in all directions.


    "AHH!"


    "Edmond!"


    Rufus hollered, rushin’ forward. Sparks danced like devils over someone, crawling over what he could only guess to be his partner.


    He got to him quick, his crossbow arm sweeping the shadows as his free hand clamped down on Edmond’s shoulder.


    "You good?!"


    Down on one knee, Edmond grit his teeth, his breath heavy. He spit blood to the side and gave a sharp nod.


    "Good."


    Pushing himself up, without a word, he shoved Rufus aside and bolted for the barn and started tossing wreckage like a man possessed.


    "Think we got other things—"


    "Mad Gear''s gone!"


    Edmond snapped, his voice hard as iron.


    "Stop jawin’ and help!"


    ----


    Beneath the rubble, Levi lay in the pitch-black, crushed under the weight of beams and busted planks. His breath came shallow as the faint glow of his augments flickered like dying embers. The light cast just enough to make out the boy’s small, crumpled body against his own.


    His fingers, shaking somethin'' awful, reached out and pressed to the kid’s ribs. For one long, gut-twisting moment, there was nothing. Then, faint as a whisper, the boy’s chest rose.


    ''He’s breathin''.''


    Relief hit him hard. His head fell back against the broken boards, and the glow of his augments dimmed with his strength.


    The last thing he saw before everything went dark, was the faint shimmer of that mocking amber light.