Gunpowder

Axis was relieved when she watched the mass of children split up and pile into their respective schools. The school district was incredibly condensed, with all three schools right next to each other, sharing one giant courtyard that they used for recess. Watching the kids pile through the doors looked like some kind of circus act where a ton of clowns piled into a tiny car. Through three tiny doors they all managed to enter the giant brick buildings.

The policewoman watched from a few yards behind until the last children made their way into the school building. As soon as the last pair of legs disappeared into the brick walls of the building, she turned around on her horse and started to pace away.

Though she wouldn’t admit it, she was looking forward to seeing Poppy again. She liked being around the woman, not for any specific reason, it was just quite enjoyable. She had never really had that close of a relationship with anyone, besides her parents of course, but that was a given. In her childhood she would always just make friends with someone and slowly drift away from then in the next years. Lasting relationships weren’t her thing, but this relationship, with the woman who had randomly sprung into her life one day, was one she wanted to last. She wanted to protect her, and just in general be around her. She felt like a child with a stuffed toy of some kind, one they wouldn’t leave, not for anything.

The buildings were a blur to Axis as she trotted on by them, not even paying attention to her surroundings. Her mount knew what to do and where to go, it didn’t need any input from her, which she was thankful for. She couldn’t imagine how many crashes she would’ve gotten into if she didn’t have the simulated intelligence navigating for her. She would probably be dead after having crashed into a ditch or something. She was lucky to have survived her motorcycle accident years ago, the one that had left her with the scar.

Looking up at the sky, she realized it was almost noon, which would be time for lunch. She in no way wanted a repeat of her attempt at breakfast, and tried to think of another solution. Axis wasn’t the kind of person to go to restaurants, but going to one seemed to be a good solution to her current dilemma, but going out in public like that, with her roommate, brought up its own slough of problems. She had seen people’s faces when she had given her guest a tour of the town. They all looked terrified, as if some kind of Frankenstein was walking through the streets. She knew they had the right to be scared too, she had been at first as well. Even thought Poppy wore no insignia of her past allegiance, it wasn’t hard to tell based on her simple appearance. She was short, her hair scruffy, and she was covered in scars, all of which were traits of almost every loyal. In addition, she wore an arrest anklet, which in itself could bring fear to her presence. Even the lady at the pet store, who looked to quite rational and understanding, had been fearful of the stranger.

Poppy wasn’t the first loyal to be brought into the city, not in any respect, but she was probably the one that people had seen the most of. Most of the ones that were brought into the city walls were soldiers who had been captured in battle. Even they were often allowed into society, with constant supervision, of course, but they weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms. Most of them ended up in prison for assault or, sometimes, even murder. Everyone stayed out of their way.

But Poppy was different. She was a technician with a kind heart, and wasn’t violent in any respect. In fact, she was quite in awe of what the rebels had accomplished, and seemed to only wish to learn more. If anything, she would be a major help. She knew everything there was to know about loyal technologies, and, in this era, technology was more useful than soldiers in a war.

Time seemed to fly on that horseback ride home. Nothing eventful truly happened, and Axis was mostly just lost in her thoughts. So lost that she was surprised when the robotic equine she rode kneeled down, signaling for her to get off. She reverted the machine to its basic cube form and strode into the house, shaking the slight sweat off her brow. It was warmer outside than she realized.

The house was silent in that moment. So silent that it made her nervous. Even the vague, but always present, noise of keystrokes was absent. She did her best not to jump to the worst conclusion, but it was hard. Quieting her suspicions with a shake of her head, she kicked off her boots and raced up the stairs, not even bothering to grasp the railing. The closer she got to Poppy’s room, the more worried she got. The woman was pretty much always on her computer, typing away at something. Axis could always hear the noise of keys tapping whenever she was on the upper floor of the house. But, it was eerily quiet.

Not bothering to knock, basically forgetting what the word “manners” meant, she swung open the door and burst into the room.

Only to be greeted with a kitchen knife to the face.