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Sawbones frowned as he slammed the door of the one of the dozens of cars he had searched closed. The driver’s head had been smashed through the wind-shield, his exhaust punctured with shards of glass and a permanent dying scream on his face.  All of the full-lives that he had discovered in the wreckage so far were unable to be salvaged properly. It was a right bleeding shame, as far as he was concerned. Their bodies had the potential to be ample forges for his own creations and they had been desecrated by those infidels. Most of their blood had dried up into paste and their organs had become quarry for maggots. The most that they could be used for right now was just blood. Sawbones scoffed as he drained the last viable corpse of all of its blood, removing the dripping needle from the vein. None of them were universal donors. 

As far as he was concerned, trying to survive in this graveyard would be useless without the help of a Blackfinger. The Great Hippo was a great patron in many respects but he wouldn’t dare intrude in the territory of the Angel Combustion. All that he had managed to scrounge up in his pitiful attempts at scavenging was two jerry cans worth of guzzoline, several cans of grease-laden pet food of various types and enough water for a day’s journey at best. It was everything of use to a Wretched and yet, nothing of use for an Organic Mechanic. Sawbones lazily stabbed open a can with his scapel, scraping out the contents with his fingers and licking it, taking mind not to gag at the horrid taste. He stared at his plunder in disappointment. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue]“ Oh, Great Hippo, why do you forsake me now?” [/color]

He wasn’t going to survive for more than a day or two, a week at best. Perhaps, he should have considered going towards the settlement…….
Suddenly, a hoarse voice cried out towards him. Sawbones thought it was an illusion at first. The shimmering waves of heat blurred the dark figure that was walking towards him until he came within a few yards away from him. There was no mistake. It was another survivor. Tossing the can over his shoulder, Sawbones walked towards the survivor in a frantic pace. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue]“Amazing. How did you manage to survive? I thought I was the only one. How?” [/color]

Sawbones examined him closely as if he was an art collection, admiring every detail on him, his figure, his sand-soaked apparel and his injuries. Without warning or hesitation, Sawbones swiped at his forehead, a lick of dried blood on his thumb, and sniffed at it, murmuring to himself. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue]“Of course. Why didn’t I notice sooner? You’re a full life. Yet, there’s something more. There’s asphalt in that blood of yours, and yet, there’s a hint of chrome in there. It’s no wonder you survived. A warrior of the roads with the strength of a war-boy. Interesting….” [/color]

The man standing in front of him was a prime species indeed. A very interesting study. In this blighted world, you could rarely encounter a full-life much less a half-life that was near an empty tank. This must have been a gift from the Great Hippo. Sawbones turned back towards the warrior, the mask of rags disguising the grin on his face as he spoke with an enlightened tone. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue]“The Great Hippo has blessed us both, road warrior! My name is Sawbones. I am sorry but I appeared to have forgotten your na-” [/color]

There was a sudden crunch of metal and a bout of furious swearing that interrupted his sentence. He’d turned around, only to notice a man standing behind him, his knees bent and shook like all of them were from the crash. What he was more concerned about however was the rapidly approaching maelstrom of dust behind them. It was a giant behemoth of scything wind and blistering desert sand, frothing at the mouth and swallowing the horizon whole. Sawbones quickly scrounged up all of the supplies he had managed to discover into a hastily knitted leather ruck-sack, a slight stammer in his voice as he pointed behind Zer. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue]“ I suggest we make haste and run away immedietely. I doubt even the Great Hippo can save us a second time unless the two of you want to test his strength today.” [/color]