//-------------------------------------------------------// Life in The Badlands -by Zeno The Black Dragon- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Scorched deserts //-------------------------------------------------------// Scorched deserts "There is a rumor floating around that The Scorch past through Arkney," A bartender said as he filled one of his patrons glasses. "Seriously what happened to the town!" A man asked. "Heh, what do you think? The whole town was nearly destroyed when a group of bandits attacked him! Needless to say, they're lucky that no one died in the fires!" The bartender replied as he put away the bottle and started cleaning the table top. "Geez bandits these days are getting really gutsy! I mean picking a fight with the Scorch! What a group of idiots!" Another man said as he took a swig of his drink. "Speaking of which, did you guys hear the rumor of New Eden?" Another one of the patrons asked. "New Eden?" Everyone asked. "Yeah get this, apparently they have an abundant amount of water and enough food to feed ten villages, and their supplies are still growing." The man explained as the entire bar started listening. "People from all over the badlands are heading there, even though it is right next to the grand cavern." This caused everyone to gasp and even someone dropped a glass which shattered into pieces. "You would have to be crazy to try and go there!" The bartender said as he went to get a broom. "Crazy is the best word to describe it, but people still take this risk. I guess some people are just to afraid of bandits," The man from earlier said as he took a drink. "That or scared of the Scorch!" someone shouted from the crowd which caused everyone to laugh. All except one patron who was wearing a hood over their head. Whoever it was they finished their drink and walked out of the bar in a hurry. walking out the door he pulled the hood of to show a young man with red hair that went down his back and it seemed like he was...........crying? "Come on already........" He said falling to his knees. "THAT ONE WASNT EVEN MY FAULLLLLTTTT!!!! Riding through the desert on a modified motorcycle, Scorch made his way to a small town to the east called Linemell. As usual for him he seemed to be in a sour mood after going out last night. "This is so stupid! I get blamed for stuff that wasn't even my fault!" He shouted in frustration. Yes, Scorch is a man with few words.....mostly because his dead air is usually filled with bullets, mostly pointed at him. "HEY! YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUB IT IN YOU JERK!" He shouted like a crazy person who talks to imaginary voices in his head. "OH SCREW YOU!" He once again shouted only to suddenly find himself thrown off his bike. After pulling himself out of the sand, he gathered his things and got back on his journey with a sense on who the boss was. After a few more minutes, he saw a bar in the distance and decided that would be a good place to restock on supplies. However, before he could reach the bar he noticed a few cars heading his way. "Oh great what now?" Scorch slowed down and came to a stop as the others parked around him and started cursing and yelling. Scorch watched as they pointed their guns at him. "LISTEN UP! IF YOU DONT HAND OVER EVERYTHING YOU GOT WERE GONNA FILL YOU FULL OF HOLES!" One of the men shouted as his group cheered. "Hey, guys! If you don't mind I have to go sooooo......" He said as he tried to get past them, only for a shot to graze past him. "Heh, I guess you didn't hear me? So I'll repeat myself, hand over everything you got red head or else will fill you with lead!" The man shouted. Scorch turned to the group and glared at them which scared the others, however, as they prepared to fight Scorch was........on his knees. "PLEASE DONT HURT ME! I DONT HAVE ANYTHING I SWEAR!" He shouted as everyone else fell over in shock. "What the hell is with this guy?" One of the bandits asked as the others stared in shock at this pathetic stranger. "Ok! Thats enough!" The leader said stepping out of his car and watching Scorch. "Hand over whatever cash you have and you can go," he said as scorch reached into his pocket and fished out a few coins and gave it to the bandits. "This is all you have!? Honestly, you're not worth the trouble, let's ride!" The bandits climbed back into their cars and rode off into the desert as Scorch waved goodbye like a little coward. "HEY! YOU WERENT THE ONE WITH A GUN POINTED IN HIS FACE!" He shouted at nothing further pointing out his insanity. "Honestly why do I waste my time talking to you?" He asked knowing full well that nobody else would talk to him willingly. This seemed to shut him up and he climbed back onto his bike and rode off towards the tavern in hopes for some supplies. He pulled his bike next to the building and walked into the tavern. It was old and rustic looking with no one else except an old man with a gray beard wearing some overalls and pair of scholarly glasses. He finally noticed his newest customer and adjusted his glasses. "Welcome young man, how can I help you today?" He asked with a cheerful smile. "Yeah if you don't mind could you give me a refill on my canteen on my bike? Maybe some gas too, and some food!" Scorch asked. "Sorry young man, but we don't have any gas here and were running low on water ourselves," The old man said with a sigh. "To be honest thanks to those bandits we've lost over half our own supplies," He explained. "Ah, man! I'm seriously never gonna get a break!" Scorch said as he rested his head on the counter top. Just then the door to the tavern opened and a woman walked in, however, this woman was very odd. She had a blueish color to her skin and wore even stranger clothes. Her most defining feature, however, wasn't her body, wich was amazing to say the least, but her rainbow colored hair. "Excuse me, but would either of you know the way to Linemell?" She asked. Both of the men stared at this voluptuous woman in front of them and then both of them said, "Huh?" "WAIT THAT WAS IT! That was hardly an opening to our story!" Scorch shouted! "Oh, shut it would you Scorch we have to do the promo for the next chapter! Which is my big debut!" Dash explained "Your debut! What the hell this isn't fair at all!" Scorch cried Next time on Life in the Badlands: The Rainbow Connection! "Oh, come on this can't be the end! I WANT MORE SCREEN TIME!"