Icafia

Chapter by Aniphx.
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An explosion rocked the truck, causing Leo to almost lose control. He checked the rear view. He saw the fiery inferno of a wrecked truck burning away from behind. He slammed the brakes on the truck, tossing the occupants of the cargo area around.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Sean cussed.

Leo hopped out of the car and dropped to his knees.

“I can’t drive anymore,” Leo said, breathing heavily,” My nerves are shot, I haven’t slept in days, and damn explosions are not easy to deal with.”

“You pansy.”

“Shut up.”

Leo stood up and dusted himself off. He looked around.

“Hey, where’s that bomber chick?”

“The crazy bitch leapt out after me and blew up the last truck,” Sean explained, “I think she took herself out too.”

“There is still a chance she survived,” Akane added.

“Eh, what do I know,” Sean cursed, “I only do this shit for a living.”

Without a word, Leo hopped into the back of the truck. He soon hopped back out with a shotgun in his hand. He removed the gauntlet from his arm and tossed it back in the truck. He walked towards the wreckage. Akane stopped him.

“Just what the hell are you doing?”

“We need to get her back,” Leo replied, “Whether she is dead or alive. We also need to make sure that no one is left to bother us.”

“Yeah, isn’t that real weapon in your hand too much for you, Science Boy?”

“When science doesn’t work,” Leo said, "Improvise.”

Sean cocked his handgun and nodded.

“At least you ain’t tryin to use a blunt sword.”

The three of them walked toward the wreckage and searched the area. Bits of kuma were all over. All were completely destroyed, but two: one with minor damage and the other with its legs blown off. Leo disposed of the latter with the shotgun. Sean went to shoot the remaining kuma, but Leo stopped him.

“I have something special planned for this one,” Leo explained, “Besides; it’s harmless to us like that.”

“I wanted to shoot it…”

“I think you blew up enough for the moment,” Akane said.

“Never enough…”

Akane bent down and picked the machine up. Suddenly, Leo ran to his left. He had found Bebe lying motionless under a large piece of wreckage. Sean and Akane quickly ran over and helped lift the heavy metal off her. Her leg was once again bleeding through the bandages. She had numerous cuts and scrapes all over her. She was definitely alive though.

“Oh great, she is alive.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Sean?” Leo asked, “She just saved our asses.”

“Heh, I know,” said Sean, "Just me being an asshole.”

“Right,” Leo said, “Anyway, she needs her leg tended to. One of you will have to drive.”

“I’m a great driver.”

“Whatever, just don’t go all Dukes of Hazzard on us and go jumping cop cars”

“Whatever you say, mother.”

Leo picked Bebe up and carried her back to the truck. As he set her down, he suddenly smacked his head.

“Dammit, I am such an idiot!!!”

“What is it now?” Sean asked, annoyed.

“This truck probably has some kind of tracking device on it,” Leo said, ”That must be how they found us.”

“Way to go genius,” Akane snapped, “Now we have to ditch this thing.”

Leo smiled. “Nah, I got something better. You have a knife on you?”

“I do.”

Sean pulled out a knife from his boot and threw it in the ground at Leo’s feet. Leo picked it up and crawled under the truck. After a minute of swearing, Leo came out with a small device in his hand.

“Akane, hand me the kuma.”

Akane handed the kuma to Leo. Leo then attached the tracking device to the kuma. After fiddling with some switches and wires, he was able to reactivate the machine. Leo set it on the ground. The kuma instantly took off into the distance.

“That should keep them off our tail.”

“I still would have rather shot the thing,” Sean said, “But that wasn’t that bad.”

“Let’s just get out of here,” Akane said, hopping in the passenger seat.

“Oh, here’s your Raider knife.”

“Hey, you scratched it you bastard!”

Leo held up his finger. “It got me too.”

“Amateur,” Sean said as he shook his head, “Get in the back before I leave you here.”

Leo barely hopped in the back before Sean hit the gas. He drove down the road, surprisingly in a sane manner. Leo tended to Bebe’s wound. He slowly lifted her skirt up to the wound. Blood was slowly leaking out from the bandage.

“I am surprised you were still running around like this,” Leo said quietly, “Oh, and I hope you don’t take offense. I am only trying to help.”

He was merely talking to himself, trying to calm his nerves. Sure, he had taken some medic courses in his time, but actually having to use them was something he never thought he would need. He was especially worried that she would wake up and punch him or something. He shook his head and grabbed the med kit. He unraveled the old bandage and cleaned the wound. He then applied some styptic ointment to the wound to stop further bleeding. Leo finished it off with by gently wrapping fresh bandage over it. He breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his brow.

“What is my problem?” Leo said, “I am so out of it now. I guess the lack of sleep is catching up to me.”

Leo bundled up Bebe’s jacket and placed it under her head. He then moved to the other side of the motorcycle and slumped against the side of the truck.

“So, what’s the game plan you guys?” Leo asked.

“There’s a town not too far from here,” Sean replied, ”I figure we can rest there for the night. Maybe there’s a good bar there too, unless you can’t handle it.”

There was no response.

“Hey, Science boy?” Sean said as he looked back.

Leo had passed out from exhaustion. Sean shook his head.

“What a wuss…”