Anyone would be fascinated by the market stalls and the festive variety of merchandise that vastly populate the stalls. Lance glued his eyes among them with quick scrutiny, identifying the other scrap items as Uncommon to Rare levels; some were Masterworks -the highest among component levels.
'Masterworks? This could be fun,' Lance thought.
"Jasper, scan that," Lance said, pointing to a Masterwork-level item hanging precariously from the stall as their jeep slowly passed by.
"Scanning..." Jasper said.
"Careful with that, kid," Handsome reminded. Lance nodded in agreement.
"Master," Jasper whispered, "it could be an optic wave signal amplifier from its cylindrical tube design with digital reflectors inside it, connected with an optic wavelength enhancer."
"Why is it a masterwork-level item, kid?" Damian asked as he drove the jeep to a turn.
"Maybe no one knows how it works, but that component is a crucial part of laser rifles used in the police force. The optical wavelength is enhanced exponentially when it is paired with a DC-charged battery, while its tube amplifies the optical wavelength through its digital reflector design. It will store a lot of optical energy, and over time, it will materialize into combustibility." Lance explained.
"Well, you lost me somewhere in between all of what you have lectured," Damian teased. "We will find your Energy Accelerator after we register you. First and foremost, the other half of my payment, kid."
"It's all business with you, Damian," Lance said. A holographic frame appeared above his palm and transferred 250 units to Damian. "I like it, fair."
"Successfully transferred, Master, 250 units," Jasper said.
Damian checked his hologram too. "Thanks. Nice doing business with you, kid. I will share some with Handsome as well."
Lance was unsure at first that the price was only 500 units for a Specialist. As general knowledge, traveling to Axiom Trench was suicide. However, 500 units was equivalent to 2 months of groceries. A tempting sum but nowhere near enough to justify the risk.
Axiom Trench was a black-market haven for illegal exploits, buried deep beyond the watchful reach of Axe Central. Damian and Jefferson did not emphasize that it was no longer an Abominant nest. Though the journey through the deathly city and the dead forest comprised the expected risk.
"We are here," Damian said. As they disembarked, a deep, satisfying sigh escaped their lungs. Lance shook hands with Handsome; however, the latter's grip was weak. It was his first time witnessing Handsome's face without the mask. His features did justice to his name – neatly trimmed facial hair, square jaw, and blue eyes. Joe's face, on the other hand, was almost the opposite. He was slender, almost wiry, but nothing about him was delicate. His arms were evident with years of gruesome labor.
"See ya, kid," Handsome smiled, despite the gloomy, teary eyes; his shoulders sagged as he walked away. During these dark times, true friendship was a rare treasure. Beneath every smile lurked a secret, and behind every friendship, a hidden agenda.
They ambled inside the large tent. It was the largest among a throng of stalls that sprawled along the roadside. Lance trailed behind Damian, never letting more than a few steps come between them.
Along the tent's entrance, Lance found three caged, growling creatures - the size of Dobermans. They were Abominants of the same originating dog animal but of different mutated hybrids.
'Domesticated Abominants?' Lance thought.
One was mixed with an armadillo; its skin had scales like a shell, smooth and hard, covering it from its head to its pointy tail. The second one seemed to have skin-like grass; its ears were tree leaves. The most horrendous-looking one was unfortunate; it was hairless, mixed with a rat.
The cages were chained, their necks constricted by another set of chains. Abominants were known to be aggressive, especially in the winter season, and the smell of human blood boiled their innards, triggering their hunting state.
"Don't be afraid," the Seer said; her voice was shaky but loud.
"I am not," Lance said as he stepped forward nearer to the Seer; his comrades were behind.
She smiled at that. Her face was wrinkled, mid-50s. She had tattoos all over that ran along her cheeks down to her neck and blew up to her arms, like sleeves. Apparently, her tattoos had meaning as if depicting the global historical chain of events.
She sat on a throne-like chair, with various gifts surrounding the bottom. Below her, which reached Lance's feet, was a thick carpet comprised of red fur streaks, probably from an animal or an Abominant.
It's an Abominant. Lance concluded.
He felt the Seer's stare like a shotgun, ready to blow anytime that would maim his soul. Therefore, he held his stare too, without being distracted by the surroundings.
"You three are Newbies in Axiom. You come to register yourselves?" The Seer asked.
"This is Lance Berkley, son of Erik Berkley, former Electronic Tier of the Corporation. The unsung hero of the Rebel faction," Damian announced.
"I knew Erik, Damian!" The Seer lifted a palm to Damian. "You don't need to tell me his achievements," The Seer retorted. "So what can I do for you, son of Erik Berkley?"
Lance just noticed the Seer's golden eyes as they stared at him. They matched perfectly with her clothes - golden silk with weird patterns along the seam lines.
"I come to acquire an Energy Accelerator," Lance said, his eyes never leaving the Seer's. He felt the Seer's soul was reaching for him, spiritually touching him - soul to soul, her truth against his truth. An inexplicable feeling, though, comforting in a way, also frustrating.
"Why such a hurry, young one?" The Seer stood up. Her body shook upon mustering her strength in her thighs.
Surprisingly, she stood straight and strong right after a short struggle. Before the Seer's success, Lance heard whirring sounds of small servo motors as the Seer straightened her stand. She was effortless after her legs stabilized, and the mechanical turning noise faded.
She smiled at the kid.
"You probably wonderin' why I can stand this straight despite my age and without the help of a walking stick." She showed her metallic prosthetics that comprised his thighs and legs.
"I bet you have never seen this before. A cybernetic material combined perfectly with organic flesh." Her voice was filled with pride.
The kid was speechless. After years of studying science and the marvels of the unknown, he had never witnessed such a breakthrough.
"My father had mentioned it," Lance finally spoke after a few awkward moments. "It was one of his projects to enhance organic material growth by the use of electric current. The compatibility was tricky, as he said; organic and inorganic materials don't match well if not used with Masterwork-level metallic compositions."
"Yes. Masterwork level. They are really rare to come by."
"I can see you are selling a few here in the trench?"
"You see, these merchants traveled to every dead city to scrap. With their lives on the line, of course. But it is a necessity, one that is sound for each one of them."
"Your father," the seer continued, "He had a vision. He had hope. And he knew the blueprints to destroy the abominants once and for all. But it seems far greater forces had been intervening in the progress of his science. Politics came into play, and Erik strongly believes that powerful people are leveraging this crisis. To stay in power... and to thrive."
"He had to fight them alone, and he felt alone... A revolution is a must, he always said. And that to his demise." The Seer added.
It was a lot to take in for the kid. It seemed that such a burden would be inherited by him, and this impossible feat was expected from him. He had no answers. He had little knowledge about the mystery of science. He only had his wits and his drive.
"You have a lot to learn, still, son of Berkley," The Seer said. "But what lies ahead in your journey will unfold mysteries and answers to your questions."
The Seer laughed as Lance's face was masked with predicaments.
"Come," the Seer said, accompanying Lance to a chair connected to the digital controls. A man in a lab coat had made apparent modifications using the digital platform.
The sight of it haunted the kid.
"Please sit down," The Seer requested, and Lance followed. "The Doctor will administer a chip in your foreskin, just beyond the lines of your epidermis. This will allow you to enter this domain without being shot."
"Doctor?" As he placed both arms on the armchair, he asked. They fit snugly and comfortably, like his massage chair at home.
"Don't worry, I am a medical doctor," The Doctor said. He had several lenses on his eyes, moving accordingly and efficiently as the Doctor adjusted them by a button on his temple.
"I guess your name is also Doctor," Lance said. He just asked to ease the nervousness.
"That's right, we don't use our names here," Doctor replied. "Well, I am the only Doctor here in Axiom Trench."
After a few adjustments, a few buttons clicking, and the whirring of mechanical surgical arms, the chip was inserted at the foreskin of his neck. He felt a sudden stab from a pointy knife as a metallic tip buried, leaving a small but heavy sensation.
Another surgical mechanical arm emerged. It held the anesthetic syringe that nullified the pain so promptly after cold specks of liquid. The soothing mint-like lotion eliminated the searing pain so abruptly.
"Let me tell you this, son of Berkley," The Seer mused. "Axiom Trench and the Outsiders are different people than you used to deal with in the Surviving City."
"How so?" Lance asked, simultaneously inspecting his nape. His fingertips felt a minute lump on his nape. Undergoing the same process, the two other neophytes had their shots as well.
"If they don't like you, they will deceive you. So be careful how you deal with these people. They don't recognize your name or who you are. If you are a threat, especially if you live inside the city, they will not disclose anything to you. And you won't get what you need. It will be a waste coming here with empty hands."
"These people lived beyond the walls. The dead Cities are considered homes. Unlawful, unsanctioned, and at risk of Abominants. They know how to live in hiding from the scents of the creatures. Therefore, these people survived the harshest environments and learned to live beyond the reach of the Corporation. They don't have dreams as you do. They only live to see another day until they die in old age. So, I am telling you, always expect the worst."
"Do you know somebody that can give me what I need?" Lance asked.
"Unfortunately, I can only give you a name, but it is up to you if he can give you what you need. If it's available and you come to an agreeable term with the merchant, then you are in business."
"Can you not help explain to the Merchant what I need?"
"Something told me that this is on you, son of Berkley. You must experience firsthand how you deal with difficult and different personalities. I know your father, and he wanted you to experience these challenges for you to grow to become a better trader. And besides, I believe your father taught everything that you should know. So, let's put his teachings to the test, shall we?"
"Don't worry, Seer," Damian interjected, "I will keep him safe."
"You better be, Damian. If what Erik said is true, then this kid holds the secrets of Science. According to him, he holds the key to our salvation."
"Salvation?" Lance responded softly.
George and Joe held a stare agreeable to the upcoming responsibility - keeping Lance safe from foreseeable harm. Otherwise, Jefferson would kill them.
"What do you mean the key to our salvation?" Joe asked.
"That's why it's called a secret, dumbass!" George mocked.
"My father only told me that the secret to humanity's Salvation is in Bay City. That's why I plan to power back Bay City using the Energy Accelerator."
"Bay City?" Holding her abdomen, the Seer laughed hard. The whirring of the servo motors underneath her golden silk emerged. "Bay City is a different story, son of Berkley. It has become a hive now for Abominants, at least a quarter of its boundaries."
Lance frowned and shook his head. "I got you, Seer. Now tell me the name of this merchant."
"Merchant One. He is the first Merchant ever in Axiom Trench." The Seer responded.
"Well, everything else. I guess you are all registered, and you may enjoy the festivities," she continued.