"Hello as I said before, my name is Kai Waltz. You see I've been an orphan all my life, my parents abandoned me on the side of the road when I was five and, yes, before you ask I have had a job before. I actually worked for a guy named Rob painting toilets for half a year. The pay was wonderful he gave me two cents every hour! Can you believe that?! It was awesome really, the guy even let me sleep under his town bridge. If that's not a worthwhile profession I don't know what is. Facts are you can't really ever find people that kind anymore, but hey I know you and I'll get along. You seem to have that kind flame burning in your eyes. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you hired me here and now, you're really---"
The bar tender slammed down a green bottle, rattling Kai's teeth---and shutting him up. "How old are you kid?"
He smiled. "Seventeen, it'll be a pleasure working with you ma'am, really I---"
"Get out."
"Ma'am I really am the best asset, I promise to uphold your holy laws! Wait!"
Kai was presently thrown out of the bar.
Onto the next one then...
"Yes it's Kai Waltz. I've been to the moon, yes I'll be the perfect person for the job sir. No one will see a broken chip on any wall ever again. Stains will be swept up under my brush!"
The frail old man peered at Kai. "Ever used a brush lad?"
"Yes I've used hair brushes before. I know all the secrets to painting, I'm affiliated with---"
Kai was turned down.
Let's try again...
"Food is my passion. I've practically grown up eating vegetables, I'm a seasoned gardener."
The man with the clipboard stared at him. Kai seemed to get that a lot.
"Veges forever?" he tried weakly.
"Boy, we serve.... hamburgers."
Defeated on the side of the road, like usual, Kai leaned back, exhausted. He swept his hair out of his face, and rubbed his temples.
"Ugh..I really thought I had that one."
[Failure is the first step to success. Keep trying and eventually you will succeed.]
The words appeared across his vision, words written by the VPP (Virtual Persona Program) installed in his contact lenses. Contact lenses, but upgraded with a search system, communication device and even a recording feature. Handy if you were a spy, useless if you wanted a job.
"Easy for you to say. You're already perfect."
[Incorrect. Perfect: having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.]
"Yes and...?"
[The VPP is not perfect because it does not have everything it wants. The VPP wants a functioning body to move in without outside support, like you. If offered the chance, that is.]
Kai shivered. "Hey now, don't say stuff like that it's creeping me out."
[Apologies. Powering down.]
"Hey wait! I still haven't found a job! I need to look more at the maps! You can't just!"
The small glow in the corner of his vision blinked off, indicating the shut off of his VPP. Kia sighed, getting back up off the crusty, dusty, rusty, musty side of the road. A car passed, lights momentarily blinding him. He closed his eyes a second and breathed in the polluted air of the city. Man, he didn't even know the name of the town, how would he get a job? Couldn't his superiors have dumped him in any other place?
'Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Let's just walk down the sidewalk and find a place to sleep for the night. It's late, you're getting cranky and nobody will hire a cranky, broke seventeen year old boy.' Kai thought, closing his eyes, calming his nerves, and forcing a smile on. It barely stayed there, faker than Ohio.
Kai began his long trek across the black sidewalk, he found comfort in walking on the silly white lines people had drawn onto them.
What did it take to get a job geez, the geezers in this town were really picky about who touched their toilets. Should he just move to the next town? Surely someone would hire him. Manpower was what powered humanity? Or was it fossil fuels? Eh, who cared? He needed a job, not a historical lesson. Well, maybe he needed both.
A horn blared, cutting across the silent night. Kai looked up, and spun around, alarmed as a massive beast covered in metal came screeching towards him at breakneck speed. His mind blanked for a second. When it loaded he realized he was in danger. Course by then it was too late.
Headlights danced, tires squealed defiantly, and the shouts of a woman could be faintly heard. Kai naturally threw up his hands, protecting his face---not that that would do much when hit by a car.
'Well life wasn't worth most seconds.' Kai thought as the car reached him. 'Though if I could change one thing, I would eat more sushi, 'cause it's heavenly.'
And Kai was hit---
---but not by the car. No. Something slammed into him from the other side of the street. The impact shoved him out of harms way, and the car past in a flurry of shouts and curses.
The pressure did not give, and Kai was pressed hard into the curb of the road. As reality sunk in, Kai finally got the picture---or well, part of it.
A hand hoisted Kai up. Pain laughed in Kai's ears, filling his head with opera. Kai blinked, looking around him. A man with shaved hair and big eyes was staring at him, a wicked smile in his eyes, while his lips frowned.
He stank.
"Gah!" Kai gasped for breath, clutching the strangers hand with both of his and wheezing, head bowed in pain. It came from his stomach, where the stranger had grabbed him.
The stranger pulled his hands away, his eyebrows shooting up. "Hey there buddy, you alright?"
"Thank you." Kai clutched his stomach, eyes wide. "I--I was not expecting that."
"The car? Or the pain?" The stranger smirked. "'cause I thought you were suicidal."
"WHaT? No! Of course not! Why would you even?"
He shrugged. "Why were you on the road then?"
"Uhhh... it's the black sidewalk? Where else am I supposed to walk?
The stranger burst out laughing.
Kai looked confused. "What?"
"Man you're funny!" He slapped Kai on the back. Kai winced. "What's your name?"
"Kai Waltz. From the Jungle, raised by wolves."
The stranger laughed again. "I'm Roe."
Roe leaned closer to Kai, peering at his features. He whistled. "Man you're pretty pretty. Bet you'd catch a fancy price!"
"Huh price?" Kai coughed again.
Roe grinned. "Nevermind that." Roe handed Kai a white disk. "Here. This should kill some pain."
Kai gratefully took the white disk. Nothing happened. He looked at Roe.
"It's a pill, you swallow it dingus."
Shoving the pill down his throat, Kai waited for the pain to stop. Roe was still laughing. Did he seriously find Kai's ignorance that funny? Sheesh. He should be a comedian. Maybe that could be his job.
The pain started to dampen, but Kai felt a slow tingle in his body. His muscles relaxed and he fell forward.
'What the.' Kai thought. 'Why is my body...?'
Roe was still laughing. "You naive little green shot. Oh man," he ran his hand up his shiny forehead, "that was too easy." His gaze turned from friendly, to predatory in a heartbeat. He licked his lips, "Goodnight sleepyhead."
Unconsciousness greeted Kai, and the floor greeted his head.
********
[Booting up...]
Kai's eyes opened, but he was not awake.
[Increasing power levels...]
[Downloading data....]
[Please wait...]
Roe threw Kai onto the ground, one small trip across town and he'd arrived at his safe house. The boy was a good catch. Roe would make good cash off a pretty face like that.
Creepy how he slept with his eyes open though. Roe squatted down and placed his large hand on the boy's forehead.
No fever. The boy'd be fine then. One of Roe's lacky's could fix him up in no time.
Heavy boots thumped up the stairs to Roe's right. Loud voices were muffled by the thick wood of the shed. One of the reasons Roe put up with this place were it's walls; practically soundproof.
A click was heard and the door to the stairs flung open. Two figures argued below...if you called it arguing.
"White! How many times have I told you!" The angry voice of Soyer could be heard. He clomped the last of the stairs and nodded when he saw Roe. "You can get your own boots! How many is that now huh? I swear everything you touch either dies painfully or dies painfully!"
White shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't change nature."
"Nature! Don't make me laugh. Ain't nothing natural about you." Soyer sighed, running a hand threw his white hair. He'd bleached it recently, which he was regretting. White hair wasn't his style. Although his thick black leathered cowboy boots went well with it.... well screw that, White had ruined them. Used for target practice. The boy couldn't keep his hands to himself. Geez what a street rat. Soyer couldn't deny White's knife skills though. Really, the kid was an awesome shot.
White sat on the floor, a bored expression stuck on his face.
[Data successfully downloaded!]
[System VPP now available]
Roe gestured to the pile of clothes with eyes. "This is Kai Waltz. First catch of the month."
Kai's eyes slowly shut
Soyer jumped. "WHat the!" The little group looked at the boy. Kai didn't move again.
"THat was creepy..." Soyer walked over to Kai, still on the floor. "So what you want off him huh?" Soyer examined Kai's face. "OH Glory of the Saints! You really found a Jem Roe!"
[Kai...]
Roes nodded his wicked expression still glowing in his eyes. Soyer felt a small flash of sympathy for the boy but shoved it down. They needed the cash. A pretty boy like Kai would fetch a high price.
They tied his hands together and attempted to stuff him in the closet. Brooms, rags and other cleaning supplies fell out, kicking up a dust cloud bigger than White; who still wasn't doing anything---scratch that, he'd fallen asleep.
Getting their hands dirty was rarely a problem, but house cleaning? That was not on the job description! But it had to be done. So the two sucked up their pride, threw on some masks and gloves, kicked White downstairs, and set to cleaning the stupid closet. They should have done this years ago, but time flies when you aren't doing anything.
[Kai.]
"Aw geez." Soyer whipped his brow, leaning against his broom. "We're finally done."
In front of the two, a sparkling closet awaited a sparkling boy.
They firmly shoved the boy into the closet, and closed the door.
[Kai!]
Kai did not respond.
******
White sat under the floor, content to dream about knives and boots. Mundane things like kidnapping never interested him. White wanted a fight. Something---or someone----he could physically destroy. A broken grin split his face thinking about it. How long since he stabbed somethin'? A day? Two?
White scratched his head. Maybe he should try his luck outside. A rabbit or two was likely hiding in the dark. Whistling, White swung his legs off the couch and rushed the door, opening it with enough force to break the hinges.
He paused.
'What was that noise?' White wondered. 'A rabbit?'
Without a second thought, White slammed the poor door and silently made his way through the house. His face went serious. Whatever was making those scuffeling sounds...White grinned. 'This is gonna be fun.'
The window was covered in dust, and likely rusted shut. The stained glass was spotted with mold and looked like the inside of Roe's mouth. White sighed, and entered his element.
Three.
Two.
One.
Glass exploded out and White smashed through the window. A rabbit was not huddled outside the shed. Even better. A girl.
Crazed eyes met a shocked face.
And knife met knife.
She was prepared.
She was fighting back.
White's famous insane smile braved his face. He was invigorated! Golden!
The rabbit was fighting back!
His senses numbed and White lost himself in the fight.