Rift - Random

This segment is me late at night, listening to good music, and feeling like writing. This bit will be about Rift, and really it will be a stream of consciousness, though I'll attempt to set him in the place I would hope the storyline would take place.

Series: Rift
Segment: Random
Stage: Rough

Times Through: 1

Rift contemplated his drink for a long moment. Water; pure water. It seemed such a strange phenomenon within the twisted and warped world around him. Everything was changed, altered, polluted. But here in front of him, in the simplest of substances, he found purity, amidst the storm of alcohol and synthetic drinks the bar served. Studying the other patrons about him, all clad in dark earth tones to match the depressing air and poor light of the bar, he discovered he was the only present with the beverage. He turned back to his drink, smiling in understanding. He too felt like an island of the untouched, surrounded by a tempest of false images of happiness.

"How long are you going to contemplate that before you drink it?" Zatz asked, startling Rift out of his thoughts. "It's not poison, no nanites or anything, I don't think the bartender knows you're a fleshie."

Rift cast a half smile at his cybernetic companion. The left side of Zatz's fair face was metallic and rough with a red synthetic eye gazing acutely at Rift. Sandy blonde hair fell over the edges of the metallic modifications that came up to the left side of his crown. His natural blue eye smiled with his lips as he suppressed a chuckle.

"I swear, I'll never understand you fleshies, you seem so clueless to what's happening around you." He said, and then added, "Well, except you. You seem more like you're sizing up the planet for a fight."

"I have to be on edge; if the authorities found me they would try to throw me in a laser-barred cell." Rift replied, gazing once again at his water.

Zatz laughed quietly. "Really Rift, I don't know what you're about, but I doubt you're that valuable...wait where are you going?"

Rift stood and quickly downed the small glass before setting it softly back on the steel bar-counter. Deftly he wrapped his dark cloak about him and pulled over the cowl. "That simply reminds me," He said, "I've been in one place for too long, it's time I moved on." With a small gesture of farewell, he headed for the door, almost becoming invisible as the dull ambient light of the holographic dancers above them blurred the figures below.

Zatz nearly lept after him, barely catching the hem of his cloak, "Now hold on! We just barely sat down, what are you so scared of?"

"I enjoy our talks Zatz, it's nice to have someone I can come chat with that doesn't treat me like a freak." Rift said, pulling his cloak from the cyborg's hands and passing through the hologram that served as a door.

Zatz followed him onto the street cursing quietly. The pair stepped onto a filthy street, broken machinery and filth lay mixed in with the lowest of the city's inhabitants. The perfect place to hide from Enforcement. Massive skyscrapers covered in neon light and holographic advertisements almost completely obscured the sky. The mucky roadway was lit only by the menagerie of colors above. The full moon was barely visible, drowned by the city smog, casting wilting rays of silver moonlight onto the filthy street that became lost amongst the neon. The hum and buzz of air-cars and hover-trams filled Rift's ears. The quiet of the open country seemed all but a distant memory to him. He felt like retching every time he walked amongst the towering structures. But if he did not do what he must, there would be no home or open country to return to.

"Now don't get me wrong, I still think you're completely bizarre; but that intrigues me and I thought at least I'd learn more about you. You're the first natural I've known!" Zatz said shattering Rift's thoughts again. "What you're doing in the Cyber Cities is a complete mystery to me."

Rift turned and faced his friend. As a reply was on the tip of his tongue his eyes glanced upward. Red flickering lights from an Enforcer air-car were approaching from the sky, almost aimed perfectly for him. Damn! He thought, I thought I'd have at least a few more minutes. With blinding speed he turned and sprinted down the street, deftly flowing amongst the occupants. Small gusts of wind washed over Zatz at his departure.

What was that about? Zatz queried silently, That was fast even for a cyber. He puzzled for a moment and nearly lept from his skin when a wailing siren erupted from the Enforcer vehicle directly above him. Red lights flashing in a fury it barreled down the road only meters above the pedestrians. Zatz's eyes widened at the spectacle. What in blazes are they after him for?

Well that's all for tonight, I'm tired. Lemme know what you think