Polybius - The Stranger

[Zardoz]

February 23rd, 2021

Staring, they were always staring. Vacant judging eyes that could only speak for them now that they were permanently silenced. I was not sure who they were, even as I learned more about them I was never really any better off for it. My quest for answers ends up backfiring each time and somehow I was still alive. My body was shaking, rolling and being displaced from side to side, the all too familiar feeling of being completely and utterly helpless in a dream no matter how much you tried to take control. The irony was not lost on me. Even in a nightmare you felt some relief that it was over, the worst thing was an unattainable vision that escapes you, the lethargy and inaction of what could have been to be dragged back to your own reality.

In this 'dream' the victims were still alive, asking me questions, demanding who or why did they do this, even as they writhed on the ground. I could not look at them straight until one screamed into my face. At once, I was roused from this vision by a far more terrifying sight. The Stranger who I 'rescued' from the cell before had been hovering over me, shaking me out of it and indicating that a scanner was nearby with its buzzing beeps. In that moment I understood we had to remain low, not just from the camp but also 'Our Benefactors' who were investigating this area more frequently than before. Truth be told, I was more scared of The Stranger ever since I witnessed first hand how he brutalized the guard for looking at him directly. Here I was this close to having become his victim too.

I am not sure if he took an exception to me for releasing him last night or that this hazard suit The Watcher gave me obscured my own eyes with visors. Maybe it was because you can see the reflection of yourself in another's eyes, a reflection The Stranger obscured with his own mask and goggles, a reflection he covered up completely. The reminder of being watched was never pleasant and that was one I knew too well. Still, no matter what I was not going to take my faceplate off anytime soon until we were out of dodge and I knew I could look at him straight in the face. The real enemy was outside but I had this sinking feeling that this psycho who I barely knew would turn on me at any moment. Yet The Stranger remained vigilant, standing on watch as I tried to pull myself up and find where my notebook was.

Eventually the scanner passed and we were able to make our move, this bought us time to avoid the camp who might be starting their own little investigation into who exactly broke their prisoner out. We travelled for a good while, even passing The Watcher's compound although I wanted to remain true to my word that I was not returning anytime soon. I expected we might have had to resort to what was left of The Hive or give ourselves up by returning back to the camp. Yet the Stranger either using his instinct or knowledge of the region found us a hideout spot. I know it quite well but for the interests of secrecy and trusting in my memory, I do not think it is necessary to divulge its exact location.

We set up for the night in this place, it suffered from water damage, some lights were broken and other parts of the structure were completely destroyed. Thankfully it was abandoned and secluded far away enough that there had been no real signs of recent habitation. I am not even sure that The Watcher had been here let alone the slaving scumbags we were seeking to put an end to. Surprisingly The Stranger was a half decent room mate, he never complained or argued, you would not even know he was there as we tried to clear out a liveable space down here. We kept to our own separate rooms and would figure out a plan by next morning.

For once I slept soundly that night, you could even say I had overslept but down here it was hard to tell the time of day. The next morning The Stranger was gone. Normally this would be a cause for concern although deep down I knew he would somehow return or at the very least have undertaken the mission I gave him in earnest. He had the opportunity to leave me and run the night before when he had the chance, so perhaps this was him taking some initiative. After all we were in a relatively 'safe' place and The Stranger had no obligation to guard me. I figured I would have to do my part after he was out doing only something The Watcher would know about.

I had to keep searching no matter how tempting it was to stay low, and so I left once more, this time without The Stranger.