The Adventure of Blue Buster
Episode 0:
“Buster? What do you know about them?” Blu asked the old man behind the diner countertop; he seemed like the owner at a small establishment on the side of the road. The older gentleman adjusted his cowboy hat and mouth covered by his long grey beard that shook a bit like a bush.
The diner was straight out of those retro action movies with jukebox and wood tables Blu used to watch as a child on hologram screens.
Maybe the old guy was confused, wondering or cautious about where Blu and his sister Araya are from; after all, her drifting gaze and blue hair that seemed to glow at no expectant interval could seem bizarre. The twitch of the man’s nose reminded Blu, they were still covered in the grungy and musky smell of the dirty but protective black cloaks.
Blu felt mentally uncomfortable. He kept his Bril under a ragged cloak. He was borne with his Bril and fashioned it as a translucent azure scarf that glowed in the vibrant sky hue oddly similar to Araya’s hair. He nervously tucked the bit of the scarf in the neck of the cloak.
“It's a pretty simple question.” Blu said.
“Too simple,” The country man replied.
This old man’s pause made the not-so busy diner's silence more obvious and awkward, the blowing desert gave little for ambience. A town on an uncharted plain and cut through by the never-ending road.
The place Blu heard about that exited outside territories. Land with self-governed cities held to their own technologies and culture. In between them was the Uncharted Plain with all kinds of wilds and mysteries, as well as the occasional towns that are either building to be the next territory or a place to travel through.
The sky beheld the present day, where the radiant stream of data ripped through the lithosphere, and an aurora brimmed with zeros and ones of Re:earth. The infinite data stream or the IDS as everyone called it, held info of current day easily but archived a trillion bits of memory of earth before an ancient world war seemingly ended it.
Araya rested in the booth. Her eyes flicker, observing and accessing the flowing data in the IDS, she is computing and researching something. The little mystery being who can access the data without a Cellband.
“Where are you coming from,” the man asked.
“I’m from all over the place, right now we came in from J.J. Yard,” Blu said.
“Oh, really now, what happen to your Stormwaver,”
The man searched for a response, but Blu could only shrug.
“From J.J. Yard you have to cross Stormfall, its forever lightning electrified dust cloud, a hell on earth and you telling me, you- what? Causally strolling on through, with that little girl?”
“Very casual walk, you’ll be surprised how casual it was,” he glanced back at Araya, “But now we are here.”
“J. J. Yard is a junk yard has some of the worst security clankers,” he flicked his hat, “but even then, it is not as worse as the berserker machines possessed by that hell storm and you’re just so happen to make it here with all your limbs on and well.”
“By the graces of God,” Blu smirked
The old man wanted to yell but stopped, he rubbed his chin. Blu was thankful for the pause in questioning: he was already on edge after everything. After surviving months of one of the world's top ranked supernatural hazards with Araya, they stumbled on the small town, their stomachs were drawn to the smell of sizzling beef. Of course, the trip would lead to overbearing questions from a no-nonsense old guy.
At this point, Blu preferred the secondhand experience of human culture through the archives of IDS, watching the cinematic sequences of an exploding restaurant from the battle of fighting robots.
Blu scratched his head, causing sand to drip from his short curly fro onto the counter. The old man aggressively wiped off the dirt.
The country man sucked his teeth, “And you expect me to believe that. Then you’re asking about Busters? You're in the middle of nowhere and that's your ask?”
“And food as well,” Blu nodded at him, “At the end of the day, I'm curious. I need work and I heard they are all kinds of experts, warriors that take contracts to do the uncommon things in the world,” Blu said.
“Busters are just death flirters. It’s not the best way to make a living,” he polished the counter “It’s for the crazies but I guess you look it huh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Blu cracked.
“So why would you bring that girl with you,” he said, peering over Blu’s shoulder, “Sweetie, are you okay?”
Araya broke her concentration and nodded fervently with a thumbs up. “I’m fair, but hungry, but overall fair,” Araya said.
“She is my sister,” Blu said.
The Old man’s eyes bled more skepticism.
“What was wrong with this guy? Why wasn’t it believable? Was it because Blu had dark brown skin compared to Araya’s olive skin?” Blu continued pondering about the man’s inquisitive nature before speaking out.
“What, you don’t see the resemblance??”
Araya and Blue both stuck their tongues out while pulling down their eyelids, and yelled “Ahhh!”
“Why are you really in this town for,” the old man replied, “Trouble?”
“Fine, you want to know the truth?” Blu subtly and quickly nodded at Araya.
“No, Brother, do not say it,” she nodded with her eyes back at Blu.
“I saved her from a lab that treated children like rats,” Araya flashed her shoulder, showing zero-zero as she was numbered like a machine unit.
“I was not a human child but a deceased amphibian to be dissected," Araya became woozy and faint after her statement and began to fall out of her chair. Blu caught her and glared at the old man.
“How dare you judge us, have we not been through enough,”
“It is fine, my dear brother. I’m learning there are humans without the heart capacity to consider the broken test subject like myself,”
“Enough,” the old man waved his hand to blow away the overacting, “Whatever you say. I am assuming you two are very hungry.”
“Yes,” the pair said simultaneously.
“But we don’t have any credits,” Blu said.
“Of course you don’t, so you are trouble but just for me,” the man growled, but he couldn’t say no to Araya’s eyes.
“I’ll get you both something.” he walked to the kitchen.
“Thank you so much mister,” Araya said.
The country man shed a smile with a playful click noise. Blu and Araya sat in the booth, thankful to hear the sounds of pans banging and burger meat slapping as opposed to the sounds of metallic clanking, galeforce winds, and thunderous storms.
“Good job, I think? We might’ve overdid it,” Blu chuckled.
“Why do you say that? we clearly achieved our goal; my performance hit every beat we practiced.”
“But you didn’t have to show your tattoo.”
“Tattoo? Are you referring to my brand number?”
“I guess it's not a tattoo. Do you know what it means?”
“Not exactly, other than I’m a prototype if I'm zero. I have no recollection of my past. We just know you found me in the E.X.E. in J. J. Yard,”
"I'm not sure if that is the name of that weird spacecraft. That was just graffiti,"
"Oh." bummed, "I see."
“Sorry. I know it sucks. I kept trying but I couldn’t turn it back on with my power like that first time,”
“I couldn’t interface back in. it’s quite the conundrum,” Her eyes wandered away.
Blu’s guilt pressed on his chest. He stumbled on the ship after his exodus from the Brax tribe. He made his decision after a grave incident, but she followed him without ever meeting the tribe.
There are six types of Radiance and all shine a different color.Araya and Blu share the rarest shade of this radiance, the Bluqa, the changing waves.This is all the more reason for her to be traveling with him; after all, the elders and scientists of the Brax tribe could know more about her ancestry, about her.
“Araya, maybe you should-”
The kitchen door flapped open, interrupting the conversation as the country man brought a burger to their table. One big juicy burger, the one that was on the menu as a challenge and was perfect for two people to share. The fries on the side were golden brown and crisp, Blu never had food with a pleasant crunch before.
*Enjoy,” the old man returned to his counter.
Blu sliced the burger in half, and the two devoured the unhealthy delicacy in the middle of nowhere. No wonder Blu always saw ads for burgers. If they all taste so savory with a tangy sauce, then everyone should know about it. The two finished the plate in seconds. Blu sat back, he noticed Araya felt that same relaxation when real food is in your belly, not just cacti and cacti juice.
A thundering screech echoed, terrifying the gray-haired man. He stepped closer to the rugged window, his hand trembling.
A Berserker came from above, a flying model machine bound by electrical magnetic dust with flapping rust-colored wings descended over the town. It had a long spike for a tail and its head was shaped like a metallic lengthy beak with two slits for eye sockets, and electricity from Stormfall beamed through like haunting oculi.
Blu stood up and revved his power glove. Its azure jewel at the center of the back hand blinked on, running his power through the circular grid of the black padded Kevlar. Araya, as if she teleported, was at the front door, and her azure hair shined with intensity. The scared old man stepped back; the shift in the two’s unwavering focus was staggering.
The berserker flew around aimlessly before turning back to its comforting electrical clouds.
Blu stuffed his right hand back into his cloak. Araya had already slipped back to her seat, kicked her feet like a child as she took another fry.
“Nothing blew up, sweet!” Blu sat down to finish his plate.
The old gray man stumbled to a barstool, shocked at how fast these two could flip the switch for action. Clearly, they went through their own fight that brought them here. Araya and Blu subtly celebrated their first time witnessing a flying berserker that they didn't have to engage with a smiling look.
“So old man, have you met a Buster before?”
“Sam by the way,” he shook Blu’s hand, “Thank you.”
“Oh, don't even worry about it. I’m Blu without the E,”
“I am Araya, and thank you. The food was quite tasty,”
“As for your question, I met many who stop through, best Buster I know is Rocky-Rock, the quickest gun and gadget slinger with all the grit you can want,”
“Oh, wow. Never heard of him before,” Blu nodded, “do they seem well-off despite the constant flirting with death thing you talk about?”
“Well-off? I assume not all of them. Just like anything else, there are folks that are good at their job and bad at their job. And some are good people folk and some the folk you don’t want to meet,”
“Are we the good kind?” Blu asked.
“I guess so,”
“Maybe that’s a good sign. Clearly I need a job; do you know where I should apply?”
“You lot could be a Buster, why aren’t you one now?”
“I’m trying to be, but I don't know how, that's why I’m asking you.”
“Like I would know. I know how to fix cars, grill a burger, and all things cost money that you don’t have,”
“Where could I go down the road where people would know?”
“Just use your Cellband, even I have one,” Sam displayed the elastic wristband with a RGB lighting that changes in sync with the IDS in the sky.
“We don’t have one yet,” Blu said.
"Don't worry. We should be okay,” Araya interrupted, “We are not too far from Meridas,”
“That crazy city, you going to walk all them miles?”
“Sure, it's a pleasant change of pace from the shocking dirt fog.” Blu smiled, “you ready Araya?”
“Yep,” she popped up.
“Wait,” Sam said, “I can lend you some wheels to make it easier for you.”
“Really??” The two said.
The man went to the back. There were a few cars in front: a dirty white jeep, a blue van, and an aged red-hot sports car. Blu couldn’t guess which one Sam would give. Blu never drove before, but he could learn. He shook Araya by her shoulders in excitement.
A white bicycle, yes, Sam came out with a bicycle and not the keys to the red sports car in front. The two-wheel ride was modern. The wheels and body were thin but sturdy polymer and could be compacted into one wheel. Blu only could nod. The two wheels were better than no wheels. Araya's head tilted as she stared at the man.
“Why would you possess a very expensive bike?” Araya asked.
“It was for my daughter, I got it when she was your age, now she is too big for her old man. I miss her.” Sam replied.
“Is she a resident at Meridas?”
“Yes, but she has my contact. If she wanted to reach out to me, she would have,”
“Maybe we’ll meet. The probability is low, but if we are intentional, the odds would be favorable.”
“I don’t understand what you talking missy,” Sam rubbed her head, “but thank you for trying,”
“Thanks Sam, you kept us going a bit longer,” Blu shook Sam’s hand, “May God bless you and yours.”
Blu left, but Araya stayed a bit longer.
“What’s her name?” Araya asked
“Alicia Grams.”
“Okay, noted. If I see her, I will notify her of your desire to speak to her. A daughter and Father should talk often. Thank you for the food and bicycle.”
Sam smiled as they left.
Blu hopped on the bike, and Araya stepped on the back rail of the tire. She rested her hands on his back. Blu pedaled with his unnatural strength. He smirked at the realization: he made the bike as fast as any auto vehicle, maybe not as fast as the floating or flying one, but fast enough.
“We ate and we have transportation. All things considered, we’ve improved from where we started” Blu said.
“Burgers are really good. The calorie ratio is concerning, but it was deliciously satiating,” Araya drifted, “I’m curious. I noticed you wanted to tell me something before Sam served us?”
“Well, The Brax Tribe, I used to be part of the Guardian Core until...”
“Blu, your heart rate,” Araya scanned my vitals, “You don’t have to explain.”
“Thank you, but it’s not about me, it’s about you.”
“Me?”
“Maybe you should join the Brax Tribe.”
“How would that be possible? They’re teleporting remnant people, journeying wherever they are led with no discerning pattern. Almost impossible to trail and find even for you.”
“But I’m still a Brax, it’ll take me a while, but I can find them. The elders and scientists spend their lives researching our ancestors and history. They understand our ancestors’ blood flows through us, blessing us with radiance. The same radiance power you display.”
“I’m quite aware of radiance, but would you be accompanying me?” she asked.
“I couldn’t. They wouldn’t want me to find them in the first place since I made an exodus,” Blu rubbed his eyes, “But they are good people, they took care of me when my mother wouldn’t. They taught me about God, life and let me watch movies when I was young. They’re in their own distant world but they are not evil.”
“You no longer desire for me to accompany you? I understand it may not be literally, but are we not family?”
“I do but-,”
“Then let's not change the objective.” She quickly retorted, “We will be the most exemplary Busters together.”
Blu pedaled and pedaled harder. He needed to leave those doubts behind.
“Right, that’s the goal. I guess we can be exemplary, but let's just make enough money to do what we want to do, and then it's on you and what you want to do next, deal?”
“Deal, and who knows? The world is fairly huge. We might discover my past through exploration.”
“And everything else probably,” Blue's mind wander before he was pulled back to reality from adventure that lies ahead of them.
Meridas, a city filled with cities with the biggest skyline to match. The way the golden sun hit hundreds of tall, peculiar buildings, only made Araya clench his shoulders tighter and Blu pedal faster.