Chapter 8

Alister was up and out of bed though he still has a cast on his arm, he was in Cog's workshop watching him work. Alister smiles as he closes his eyes remembering the times that he had spent with Wrench and Pa back home in Atlas. "Oi, ankle biter. Get over here" Pa said with a gruff voice with a smile as he was working on an Atlas android "Coming Pa!" said an excited, young Wrench. She bounced excitedly beside Pa as she looked at the android, the android was not as sleek looking as the modern models that Atlas use. It had a bulky torso; a gun on it's right arm and a retractable blade on the left. It's legs were just as bulky as it's upper half as well as all kinds of wires that connect and loop around the whole machine. Pa looks over the android "look at this thing, Ironwood wants this to be deployed around Atlas? Bah!" Pa folds his huge arms as he taps his foot.

"What's wrong with-it Pa?" Wrench Asked as she looks at Pa, Pa was a tall, large and muscular human man with all kinds over scars on his arms and a claw mark on his face but to anyone who knows him that tough exterior was a gentle giant. Pa had a frustrated look on his face "Well, lil one. The thing is that when folks look at this thing, they don't feel safe. It's too big and imposing I've even seen some people attack and destroy these things. As a mechanic I hate seeing that happen but as a civilian I get it" Pa sighed as he rubs the bridge of his nose. "Oh! I almost forgot, Wrench" He looks at the young girl with a smile "Mind checking in on our guest? It's his first night here so I hope he's doing okay. I'll go get us some lunch" Pa said as he gently ruffles Wrench's head. Wrench swats his hand away then she nods "Sure thing!" she said as she ran to a guest bedroom.

A boy was sitting on a bed, looking down at the bed, he looks at the blanket then he pulls up to his face "Warm" he said as he gently nuzzles the blanket. Wrench knocks on the door causing the boy to jump "Are you awake?" Wrench asks as she slowly opens the door then she smiles as she saw the boy. "Yes, I'm awake" the boy was quite nervous as he pulls the blanket closer to him thinking that it will act as some sort of shield. Wrench tilts her head then she laughs as she gets onto the bed and sits next to him "Pa is getting lunch ready, you should come join us", the boy peeks out from the blanket shield "Food?" he asks then he pulls the blanket over his head again. Wrench claps her hands together then she pulls the blanket down "yes and if Pa is cooking then it's gonna be super good" she said with a smile.

The boy looks at Wrench's smile, he gets the sense that she is worth trusting. He nods then he looks at her "Food sounds good" he said as he gets out of bed while holding onto the blanket. Wrench giggles as she jumps off the bed and lands beside the boy "well my name is Wrench and you are?" she asked as she holds the boy's hand. The boy looks away with a sad look on his face "I don't have a name" he replied, Wrench was confused by his reply "What do you mean? Everyone has a name. didn't your parents give you a name?" Wrench had no idea where the boy came from, all she knew was that Pa brought in a poor and homeless faunas boy. "I don't know my parents" he said as he gently squeezes Wrench's hand, she looks down at his hand then back at him "I see, well why don't I give you a name?" she grins as she gently pulls him out of the room and into the workshop. "Alister sounds like a cool name" Wrench said as she looks at the boy "Alister? I guess that'll be okay" despite Alister's tired and worn look he gives Wrench a small smile.

Pa comes out of a kitchen with a big pot full of soup, just the smell of it was enough to make Alister's and Wrench's mouths water. Alister saw the size of Pa then he hides behind Wrench and pulls the blanket over him, Pa sets the pot on the floor then he looks concerned and goes back into the kitchen to get three bowls and spoons as well as a ladle. Wrench turns to Alister the she pulls down the blanket again "Pa looks big and scary but he's really nice" she said as she sits on front of the pot full of soup. Alister looks down then he sits down beside Wrench. Pa comes back out and hands them a bowl and spoon then he fills up the bowls with soup "Eat up ankle biters" he smiles at Alister.

Wrench looks up at Pa "Pa, he said he didn't have a name when I asked him for it" Pa looks at Alister with a frustrated expression. He was looking at Alister's branding as he filled his own bowl up with soup. Alister noticed Pa looking at his cheek while eating soup, he puts his hand over the branding to hide it. "So, I named him Alister! Isn't that cool name Pa?" Wrench said with a smile as she put a spoonful of soup in her mouth. Pa looks at Wrench "Aye, that is a pretty cool name. So Alister you better eat up and get your strength up, boy", Alister looks up at Pa getting a sense of the old man's warm and friendly nature.

Alister opens his eyes to find that he was back in Cog's workshop, a nostalgic smile on his face then he looks at Cog. Cog was putting the finishing touches on Alister's mask "A-almost done" Cog said as he reconnects the bottom of the mask then he sighs as he finished repairing the mask. "I was thinking about something. Since the borders are closed and you can't get back home, how are you planning of getting back home?" Gog asked as he hands Alister the mask. Alister takes the mask "I've been thinking about that and I have a plan but I have to get to a place that's kind of far from Mistral" Alister replied as he looks over the mask then he nods and smiles approvingly. "I can't exactly remember that name of the place, but it has a person that'll help me get back home" Alister said as he put the mask under his arm.

"S-so what you're saying is that you'll need someone to help fix your gear on your journey?" Gog asked as a small but excited smile appears on his face and a gleam of excitement appears in his eyes. Alister looks surprised "I was just about to ask you, but I don't want to take you away from your old man" Alister said as he saw the look in Cog's eyes. Cog nods "Th-there's nothing to worry about, I asked Cal and he approves. I want to learn from other mechanics that we may come across and I want to see more of the world" he grabs Alister's hand as he couldn't contain his excitement.

Alister he nods then he chuckled with a kind smile "well seems it's settled, once my arm is healed, we'll go. I haven't seen you this excited it's kinda cute". Cog noticed that he was holding Alister's hand then he quickly pulls away "Who wouldn't be excited about this opportunity?" Cog said as he put on his welder's mask. Alister smirks as he gently punches Cog's shoulder "that's a fair point, it'll be nice to have some company anyway" Alister said as he looks out a window "I can't wait".