Natural

Natural - Non betaed, no proofreading. All mistakes are mine.

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I'm old. I would say I am old, at least. Most people have another word for me: decrepit. I don't think it is a good word to describe me. I mean, I am 200 years old, but my body stopped aging around my sixties. Late sixties, to be honest, so I'm in constant pain.

Even the corrective surgeries the Company gave me didn't help. They say it's psychosomatic and well... I'm old. It would feel wrong to be in my body and not feel any pain, I guess.

My hearing is exceptional, but my sight could be better. I guess things tend to balance themselves, after all.

I grab the pistol pointed at my face and pull it towards me, at the same time I crouch and push the man with my left hand. Just a good push on his chest and he is so startled he lets the gun go.

"Holy fuck!" The man screams, during his fall. It's instinctive, I kick him.

"I won't tolerate swearwords in my presence." I kick him again.

He whimpers and his arms curls around his own body. I guess he is scared. I'm not that tall, nor muscular and he just flew against the wall with one movement that seemed effortless. Well, I would be scared, if I was in his place.

"Look at that." I whisper, looking at the pistol. Vintage. Interesting. With a few movements, the magazine falls on the floor, between my feet. I put a foot on top of it, don't want the man to have any ideas, then I pull on the slide. The bullet jumps from the gun and the whole movement makes me think of the slingshots we had when I was a child. It makes me smile.

Another strong pull and the slide comes out in my hand.

"Jesus christ."

"I won't lie to you, you'll need him soon." I rub the back of my hand against my forehead to stop the sweat from burning my eyes and rest against the wall. "Although I'm petty sure you won't go up, so I'm not sure if you should bother calling."

I scratch my cheek.

I don't see the movement through the corner of my eye, as I should. I hear the sound of glass breaking instead. The second man is much faster than the first, he is probably Augmented. Naturals aren't this fast. I turn my body just in time to receive the punch.

It seems to take forever for me to fall on the floor. I take a deep breath and position my body to receive the least ammount of damage from the fall. I see the man moving over me and the next movement is instinctive: I place my hands on the back of my neck and cover my head with my arms.

I'm sideways on the ground, the fighter in front of me, the door at my back. By the sound of it, the door just exploded. I hear the shift on the fighter's stance by the way he moves his feet, but the sound of a cocking gun behind me tells me that staying down is the best idea.

Bang. I hear the shot loud and clear, and I feel no extra pain, so it wasn't aimed at me. The air shifts and I hear the fighter falling down. Second shot and I hear another body going down, probably the man who tried to get me first. I stand up, brush my jeans and my forearms. My red plaid shirt is frayed but otherwise intact. I grab my cap, run my fingers through my hair a few times before putting it in place.

"Fucking Natural. You just won't call for backup, will you?" The Girl just looked at me from the door and shook her head.

"I said I won't tolerate that kind of talk around me, missy. You're lucky I don't hit women... not for that, at least." I move my body, checking for broken bones or intern injuries. None. I'm lucky, once more.

"Whatever, old man, we need to move, before..."

"Before another group comes after me, I know." I move, gathering my things, listing all my possesions mentally to see if I forgot anything. "I still don't believe you, you know."

"I don't give a..." She stops herself and shrugs when I look at her. "Look, old man, my orders were clear: you're the last Natural in the country, and for all that I know, in the world. Self hating Augmented and crazy..." She stops herself again and scratches her head, annoyed. I try not to chuckle and look for my smokes. "They think if they kill you they will make a stance. I don't understand how, since the augmented are everywhere and most Naturals had children, so the lineages are... Look. The Company told me people wanted to kill you, so I should take you in for protection. Call it what you want, I just need to take you there."

"FUCK." I look at the floor and my pack of smokes is drenched in some bad guy's blood. A good pack of smokes, spoiled.

"I thought the no swearing rule applied to you too."

"There is a time and a place for swearwords, girl." I point at the spoiled smokes. "This is the right time and the right fucking place."

"Come on, old man. I'll buy you a pack on the way."

I kick some glass on my way to the door. A song comes to my head and I sing it. I can't sing to save my life, but it just feels fitting.

"It's a long way down. Say your prayers if you got'em! It's a long way down, ain't no pillow on the bottom."