The streets of the Rust Quarter were even quieter than usual, the biting cold and thick snow keeping most people indoors. The only ones outside were the desperate—scavengers searching for anything that could be bartered for food or warmth. Alex moved carefully through the narrow alleys, his mind focused on the next step of his plan to use the repaired transmitter. But even as he focused on his mission, the familiar hum of the AI's presence was always in the back of his mind, ready to assist.
As Alex turned the corner, the muffled sounds of a scuffle reached his ears. He slowed his pace, instincts sharp. In the distance, he saw a group of kids—ragged, desperate, and far too young to be fighting for survival—ganging up on someone. A girl, about his age, was backed against a crumbling wall, her eyes wide with fear as the group of four boys surrounded her.
"Come on, just hand it over!" one of the boys snarled, grabbing at her bag.
"Yeah, we know you've got something valuable in there," another boy added, his voice full of menace.
The girl clutched her bag tightly, trying to fend them off, but she was outnumbered, and the boys were getting more aggressive. Alex could see the fear in her eyes, her knuckles white as she clung to the only thing she likely had left.
Alex felt a surge of anger rise in his chest. He knew what it was like to be cornered, to feel like the whole world was against you. He glanced at the kids—no older than he was—but their desperation had turned them cruel. If he didn't step in, they'd strip her of everything she had.
Help me out here, Alex thought to the AI, his heart racing as he moved toward the group.
"Analyzing threat levels," the AI responded in its cold, methodical tone. "Four targets. Minimal combat skills. Recommendation: targeted strikes to incapacitate."
Alex nodded. The AI was right—these weren't seasoned fighters. They were desperate kids trying to survive, just like everyone else in the Rust Quarter. But that didn't mean he'd let them hurt someone innocent.
He approached quietly, using the sound of the wind to cover his steps until he was just behind the group. The girl saw him coming, her eyes widening in surprise, but she didn't say anything.
AI, assist with precision movements, Alex thought, his hands clenching into fists.
"Engaging," the AI replied, and Alex felt a subtle shift in his body—a surge of awareness, control, and focus. His muscles tensed, his movements sharpened as the AI took over, guiding his actions.
Without hesitation, Alex grabbed the first boy by the shoulder and yanked him back, sending him stumbling to the ground. The kid let out a startled yelp, but before the others could react, Alex spun toward the second boy, landing a sharp punch to his gut. The AI enhanced his strike, making it more precise than he could have managed alone, and the boy crumpled, gasping for air.
The other two boys froze for a moment, caught off guard by Alex's sudden appearance and swift strikes. But their hesitation didn't last long. One of them lunged at Alex, swinging wildly, but Alex dodged easily, his movements fluid and quick, guided by the AI's calculations. With a swift, controlled motion, he grabbed the boy's arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the ground with a grunt of pain.
The last boy, clearly realizing that this wasn't a fight he could win, turned to run. But Alex was faster. The AI had already calculated his next move, and before the boy could escape, Alex grabbed his shoulder and shoved him hard against the wall. The boy yelped, hands raised in surrender.
"Alright, alright! We're done!" he stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
Alex let him go, watching as the boy scrambled to his feet and ran off, his friends quickly following, bruised and beaten. Within seconds, they had disappeared down the alley, leaving only the girl and Alex standing in the snow.
For a moment, there was silence, the cold air settling between them. Alex's breath was still visible in the freezing air, his heart racing from the rush of adrenaline. Slowly, he turned toward the girl, who was still clutching her bag tightly, her eyes filled with both fear and awe.
"You… you saved me," she said, her voice shaky but filled with relief.
Alex shrugged, trying to downplay what had just happened. "They weren't exactly pros," he said, glancing down the alley where the boys had fled. "Are you alright?"
The girl nodded, but her hands were still trembling as she lowered her bag. "I thought they were going to take everything I had… it's all I've got."
Alex noticed her tattered clothes and worn-out boots, her appearance not much better than his own. She was just another kid trying to survive in the Rust Quarter, like so many others. He knew what that felt like.
"You shouldn't walk alone," Alex said, his tone softer now. "Especially with the way things have been getting around here. People are getting desperate."
She let out a shaky breath and gave him a weak smile. "Thanks. I'm Nia, by the way."
"Alex," he replied, offering a small nod. "You've got to be careful out here, Nia."
Nia looked down at her bag, then back at Alex. "I don't have a choice. My family's got nothing left. I'm out here looking for anything to trade, anything to get us through the winter."
Alex felt a pang of empathy. The story was all too familiar. Everyone was struggling in their own way. "Same here," he admitted. "It's getting worse every day."
For a moment, they stood there in silence, the snow swirling around them. Alex glanced back down the alley where the boys had run off, wondering how much longer he could keep playing the hero without drawing attention. The AI had been useful, more than useful, but he couldn't afford to use it openly. He needed to stay careful—one slip-up, and people would start asking questions he couldn't answer.
"Come on," Alex said finally. "I'll walk with you. It's safer if you're not alone."
Nia hesitated, but then nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Alex."
They started walking, side by side, through the cold and crumbling streets of the Rust Quarter. The danger wasn't over, and the struggles of survival weren't getting any easier. But in that moment, Alex knew one thing for sure—he wasn't the only one fighting to stay alive in this broken world.