6. Empty

Chance stepped out his door. It was deep in the night and a large thunderstorm howled. He knew better than to go outside when it was raining unprepared. He had thrown on some cold weather clothing and some galoshes he had from when he would fish with his dad. Looking up and down the street he could see that many houses were damaged while some seemingly untouched. The power was certainly out, even the street lamps were out. He had never been able to play in the rain as his mother had usually forbade it. The first thing he thought of was going to a park. However the nearest park was at least a mile away. He wasn't tired and his body felt vigorous even though he could feel no touch.

"Chance why don't we get something to eat? Your body needs some food to grow." Peony spoke loudly in his head as if to compensate for the storm overhead.

He thought to himself about how to adjust life with another voice in his head. He usually took care of his personal needs but now it seemed like another mind had interest in his overall health. "Let's just hope Peony doesn't force me to eat meat as often as dad". Just as he thought about that the hotdogs and burger his dad had started to make came to mind. Well it may be the last time I get to taste dads cooking.

Chance entered the backyard from the side-gate. Heading to the back area where he played he noticed that there was no way anything back here was still okay. The awning overhead of dad's mid yard patio and everything in it were destroyed and crumpled under a large mound of shards. Seeing the damage it had done to the back of his house and his yard made him realize that at least it was quick for his dad and mom. He luckily was just out of range. If he could call this luck.

"Emotions suppressed. I'm sorry Chance but I can't allow you to feel sad or angry about this currently. I know feeling things is a way to get over them but we have to focus right now. That's why I suggest we go for a run it always make your body feel good. So does eating." Peony explained.

Chance didn't respond as if to agree he began to leave the yard, then he noticed a few holes where Stonecrop used to be. He approached them and began to look into a hole. I wonder if he is okay. Uncontrollably his hands began to scurry into the dirt holes and after about five minutes and a few mounds of mud he found him. He had passed. It seemed to be due to suffocation as the opening was there but the tunnel had collapsed.

"Oh no... That so sad he suffered a fate like us. We can have him join us. I can absorb his data." As peony said this his hands with Stone began to rise towards his head. And slowly he began to be enveloped into Chance's head. "I will begin processing his data please move towards the mound of shards behind us so we can have more room for him."

Chance approached the meteor and stepped into the large pit. He could see a large number of these shards and that many were broken fragments. He stepped through them. And looked for any that would work. Peony began describing what blank shards would look like. Usually shards with data were identifiable by color. Organic material data was usually gray, liquid data were dark blue, gaseous data were white, reactionary (ie; combinations of data and the outcome) were unique in that the color was created by the process, blank shards were a glossy black, and inorganic material were solid black with a matte finish.

"Perhaps since we don't have to worry to much about time we can take a moment to select and house appropriate shards into the nest. We can take out time to sift through here for awhile then go out in search of food." Peony suggested.

"Sure, I guess there isn't anything else I have to do." He replied as he began to shift around the piles of shards and fragments.

-Elsewhere at the same time-

Stepping through a grungy dark alley Kris and Fiora were seeking shelter from the rain as they hid under the guise of darkness from any shardlings. Since earlier he had seen tens of them all walking aimlessly through the streets. Some seemed to be more purpose filled and were faster and actively sought out anything that made noise. Some were just like the cliché zombie and just stood about or walked in circles. And the last kind he saw were large or more fat than the others but they didn't react to noise or people and just ate everything. They would tear apart cars or trees slowly with inhumane strength and begin to dissolve the materials into their shards. Kris' plan was to make it to the police station. Surely he could find Fiora's dad or someone who could get her to him. He wasn't far from there now, just a block out. Fiora had fallen asleep in his arms awhile ago. She sat across his forearms and rest her head on his shoulder. As quiet as he could Kris began to walk again down the street towards the police station. Everything was dark no lights were lit but he doubt that the police station would be as they usually had back up power in case of emergency.

Approaching the police station Kris took a deep breath. His last encounter with someone when this started had almost cost him his life. And even more worrisome, this was a police station, they were likely on high alert and most certainly armed. As he arrived his assumptions were affirmed the police station was lit up like a beacon comparatively to it surroundings. In front of the building a bunch of Swat style trucks act as a barrier to the front door. Standing guard a few officers were atop them with rifles. After noticing this Kris yelled out "Help! Help me please! I have a child!"

The officers looked at one another and then down their scopes and back at each other again. Raising their guns in the air one of the officers spoke out in response. "State your name, age, and the last thing you can remember!"

"Kris, I'm 23, and I don't have any gaps in my memory" he shouted in response. Puzzled as to why they were so calm and not worried about his shards.

"Proceed to the front of the building through the small gap between these vehicles the next officers will direct you afterward." The same officer replied and then just after the officer next to him shot a round at another shardling thirty feet or so behind them. It hit its shards and plinked but it stood unmovable briefly before turning around and proceeding back up the street. Kris seeing this moved faster towards the vehicles.

"Thank you, she's cold and needs a diaper change." As he approached the vehicles he look at the officers noticing one male and the other female. After stepping through the vehicles he was met by two officers with guns trained on the gap. "Whoa whoa I'm Okay I swear" he shouted with a tremble in his voice.

"We will be escorting you to a separate area inside with the others. Is this your child? We will take and care for her." One officer said as the other officer spoke into their walkie-talkie simultaneously "We have another hybrid this one is with a child requesting 2 more officers."

"Uh no this.. she, her dad is a cop I think, Her mom she... She's one of those things I saw it happen and grabbed the kid. The little girl showed me her house and I saw this picture" Kris said as he pointing to the photo in his left pocket.

Stunned at his words the officer paused briefly before reacting to him reaching to his pockets, "Don't MOVE! Stay still another officer will grab the photo!" Just then the female officer leapt from the top of the vehicle shouldering her rifle. She reached for the child and took her from Kris as well as his diaper bag. Two more officers stepped out of the building

"At ease, Hello I'm Sargent William Bold. Thank you for your efforts, don't worry we just have some questions for you we will be taking you guys inside." The Sargent spoke as he nod his head to the officer with the child. The officer he came with took her post atop the vehicle and the two officers with their rifles trained rest their aim. They all proceeded into the precinct.

"The photo in my pocket, I think its her dad please take it. It's not easy for me to grab anyway" Kris said as he raise his arms.

The officer behind him reached in his pocket and grabbed the photo. His face dropped and he looked at the officer next to him showing the photo. Tears began to well in his eyes. "Thank you, Please follow the Sargent". He gave Kris a gentle pat on the shoulder and he put his arms down.

They proceeded down a few halls before stopping before a room.

"In here is another two just like you they have been spoken to. You will be spoken to shortly but for now I do not want to scare any of the citizens in the other side of the precinct. Feel free to take a short rest as it may be awhile and there is food inside." Sarg said firmly as he gestured to enter.

Entering the room Kris saw a young man and a young woman sitting at a table talking to each other as they played a game of cards. The door closed behind him and he heard it lock.