Halt_Arrtay

In the beginning humanity and energy lived as one. Humanity harvested pure matter from the environment to feed this energy and in return this energy gave the host an unique ability to help it survive, this symbiosis was called "The Connection", but there is one weakness to the connection. 
        The lack of Original Creativity. As humanity grew more prosperous and advanced in culture, so did the Connection. Life on Toreoth was ideal, until the social hierarchy collapsed. This collapse was caused by humanity, which had expended all of its original creativity. With this loss humanity lost the Connection as well. Hope has seeded itself in the minds of humanity again, every decade 20 lucky souls have an original idea or thought which establishes The Connection within them giving them an ability similar to the idea of a super power. 
	The 50th cycle of 20 souls has been interrupted by a kid named Zach and he has no idea that he is the last Connection that is tied to humanity's survival.

The Connections

        "I got sidetracked." Zach said as he opened his door.


Zach and Mr. Avner both shuffled into Zach's small hovel. Zach bent down and pulled something out of a cabinet. 


    "Here you go Mr. Avner. Why don't you try it on." Zach said handing the old vetran a package. 


Avner unwrapped the gift carefully and held his new prosthesis up in the light. 


"Wow, nice craftsmanship Zach. It must have been a pain getting it past the guards for the cemetery" Avner said.


    "It was, I had to bribe them with the money you gave me." Zach said.


The prosthesis was made from the bones of a human leg. Zach had cleaned the bones of leftover flesh and carved an intricate series of words and images. Then he used wire to link them together. Using  cordage and elastics, Zach fashioned a simple pulley system that worked like tendons. Mr. Avner was delighted with the outcome of the job he had put Zach on. Mr. Avner sat down on a chair and detached his old prosthesis which had been a more robust version of the one he held in his hands now. 


    "Here let me help you with that." Zach said bending down to help Avner attach his new leg to the socket. 


Zach pulled two bands of leather from his pocket and held them out to Avner. they had small loops of metal running along the spine of both of them. 


    "These are to make the leg move. You fit them around your thigh and right under your knee and sling cordage through the loops on the spine." Zach said.


Avner did so and Zach showed him how to correctly sling the cordage. After he was done Zach had Avner try the new leg out. It needed some adjustment but everything else was holding up. Zach explained how it all worked.


    "First the elastics are there to help with shock absorbing and to reset the ankle to a preset angle; you can adjust the preset angle here." Zach said pointing a small dial on the left side of the ankle. 


    "Secondly, I cut and fitted a river pebble with a ceramic piece to make a blade sharpener in between the Fibula and Tibia." Zach said pointing to the white and gray pebbles in a v shape where the bones and socket meet.


    "Lastly, I have something else for you. I wanted it to be a surprise for you. It took me 3 years to make it." Zach said walking to the closet. Handing it out Zach said, "This is a thanks for being a father figure to me for all these years.".


Avner unwrapped a long wooden contraption and held it aloft.


    "It is a new scythe. It has a locking mechanism at the base of the blade. Also the blade is rust proof and the shaft is collapsible." Zach said lifting it from Avner's hands. Zach gives it a quick flick and the blade slides open with a smooth click. Moving the locking bar Zach slides the blade back closed with a small click. Then he twisted the shaft of the handle back and forth 3 times and there was an audible click and Zach slid the shaft apart and folded it in half by a hinge that was pulled out when he unlocked it. Returning it to the unfolded state Zach handed it back to Avner.


    "I-I don't know what to say." Mr. Avner said.


    "You don't need to say anything." Zach said with a smile on his face.


Avner smiled and hugged Zach. They said their goodbyes and Avner left. Exhausted Zach flopped down on his bed and fell asleep.


Gifts