Ch 18: The Proposal

The crawler growled beneath Kael, its engine humming steadily as it rumbled across the cracked and barren wasteland. The early morning sunlight poured over the endless expanse of dirt and jagged rock formations, casting long, sharp shadows. In the back, Kael had crammed every inch of available space with his Uchiha loot—boxes of scavenged weapons, chemical canisters, and mechanical parts. It wasn't exactly a luxury haul, but it was survival-grade material.

He adjusted the straps on his seatbelt absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere. Uchiha had turned into a bloodbath, and the riot's aftermath would have Consortium agents sniffing around soon enough. Kael was certain his name had surfaced somewhere. He hadn't been subtle when making his exit.

Still, the crawler rumbled onward, and Kael allowed himself a rare moment of hope. Perhaps he'd bought himself some time.

A faint hum cut through the sound of the engine. Kael's brow furrowed, and he glanced toward the horizon through his dusty windshield. The noise grew louder—higher-pitched, mechanical. It wasn't the wind, and it wasn't the crawler.

Kael adjusted his rearview mirror, squinting at the trail of dust behind him. A black dot appeared far in the distance, steadily growing larger. He cursed under his breath, his hand instinctively reaching for the shotgun in the passenger seat.

"What now?" he muttered, gripping the steering wheel with one hand as he rolled down the window slightly. Resting the barrel of the shotgun on the window frame, he aimed it at the approaching figure.

The dot came into focus—a motorbike, its rider crouched low. Whoever it was, they were gaining on him fast.

"Don't do it," Kael growled, keeping the shotgun steady.

The bike slowed slightly as it drew closer, the rider pulling up their visor to reveal a familiar face.

"Mira?! What the hell are you doing out here?" Kael barked, lowering the shotgun but keeping it ready.

Mira smirked as she eased her bike closer, her engine rumbling in tandem with the crawler's. "Kael, you're predictable. You think you can just drive off into the wasteland and vanish? I was in the scout division of the Consortium. You can't shake me unless you kill me."

Kael let out a derisive snort. "You keep telling me that, but all I see is a reckless woman who doesn't know when to back off."

Mira raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. "Reckless? Says the guy who turned Uchiha into a war zone and walked out with enough loot to supply a small army."

Kael's lips twitched in amusement, though he quickly masked it. "You didn't answer my question. Why are you here, Mira? What do you want?"

She gestured casually with one hand. "To talk."

Kael barked a short laugh. "Talk? Out here? You're risking your neck for a chat?"

"I want you to join me," Mira said bluntly.

Kael blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"You heard me," she said, her tone unwavering. "With your technical skills and my foresight, we could make a real team. We don't have to stay stuck out here, Kael. We could build something better. Get out of this wasteland."

Kael chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head. "No."

"Why not?" Mira shot back, her frustration slipping into her voice.

"Because," Kael replied, "one, you don't have a plan. And two, you haven't shown me any real reason to trust you. For all I know, you're just another liability waiting to happen."

Mira's smirk faltered, replaced by a steely gaze. "I've kept tabs on you this entire time, Kael. You think that's easy? I've been two steps ahead of you since Uchiha."

Kael waved dismissively. "That doesn't count. Tracking someone isn't the same as proving you're useful."

Mira let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Then tell me—what would it take to convince you? What do you need me to do?"

Kael hesitated, his grip on the shotgun loosening slightly. He glanced at her, studying her expression. There was fire in her eyes—determination that was hard to ignore. But determination wasn't enough to survive out here.

"You want me to trust you," Kael said slowly, "then prove you're not a liability. Show me you can handle yourself when things get ugly."

"Ugly how?" Mira asked, her tone skeptical.

Kael gave her a grim look. "The hounds are coming, Mira. They'll catch up to me eventually, and when they do, I need people I can rely on—not dead weight."

Mira's expression hardened, and she straightened on her bike. "You're talking as if you've already given up. You don't think you can outrun them?"

Kael sighed, leaning back in his seat. "I've bought myself time, but that's all. Sooner or later, they'll find me. When that happens, I'm not going to survive by dragging along someone who can't pull their weight."

Mira tilted her head, a faint smile returning. "Alright. Challenge accepted."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Challenge?"

"You want me to prove myself?" Mira said, her voice confident. "Fine. When the time comes, you'll see exactly what I'm capable of."

Kael shook his head, muttering under his breath. "You're insane."

"No," Mira shot back, her grin widening. "I'm determined."

For a long moment, Kael said nothing, his eyes focused on the horizon. The crawler rumbled onward, its tires crunching against the barren ground. Finally, he sighed and gestured for her to follow.

"Fine," he said begrudgingly. "But don't think for a second that this means I trust you."

Mira chuckled, revving her engine. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it."

As they continued through the wasteland, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.