Chapter 14: Flatline

The stingy smell of a freshly shot corpse laid on the floor. The rain poured on Jakob with no thought ash he watched a trail of blood dripped down Dion's face. The water seeped through his clothing, wetting the wounds he sustained from battle. Holstering his six-shooter to his side, Jakob opened up his communicator device and held the encryptor at the bounty.

"Wow, you did it," Helga appeared on the upper left of the screen. "You looked like shit, but that doesn't make you less scary to me. How in the hell did you kill an etherian?"

"Is he recorded?"

"Yeah, recorded, and claimed. Congratulations, Jakob Recker, this alone could raise your rank to Haven-Grantee. Do you?"

"Do it," Jakob nodded. "Might be nice."

"Got it, Welcome Jakob Recker, you are part of Haven now. What an initiation bounty. If they have problems with you, then they can see me. Flatline, is that right for you?"

Jakob cocked his head. He never thought Helga's naming sense would strike twice, even in this world. There was no point of staying only for someone to found him so he made an emergency repair to his grappler stake. Leaving the area, he slowly ambled back to the part where he left the Karnifex. Anchoring to the edge of the building, he pulled himself up and stood on the edge of the building. Looking back, he saw the sirens going off and blue and red lights coming to their original location. Vaulting inside the Karnifex, he flew the Karnifex below the radar, avoiding the twisted alleys, navigating through empty corridors until he got out of the area. Pulling up, he joined the flyers on the skyway, although Aured City has patrol drones. They did not check the Karnifex and let it passed through the checkpoints.

Flying the Karnifex back to Haven, he dived the Karnifex in the passage, before pulling a maneuver to land the Karnifex on the garage. Getting off the vehicle, he sauntered to the clinic to have his body checked. Arriving in the clinic, the Doctor named Oga gestured for Jakob to sit.

"You're that new member. Welcome to Haven, everyone now wants to know who Flatline is."

"Is that so?"

"You are one of the first that killed an Etherian. It is hard not to take notice when every fool here within the last few minutes had been cursing at your recent achievement, friend. You should rest for an hour or two."

Jakob nodded without a word. He took his clothes off and closed the partition on the ward before taking a sleep. For a moment, he dreamt of his past life. The scenes played out right before his eyes. Like a bystander, he watched the world he knew slowly turned to ruin. However, one particular scene sparked a fire in his heart. He saw those chosen by the Aurelius Company to bring those who are worthy out of this plane played out once again. They left on their starships, leaving the world for another where humanity could start again anew. Relieving that scene, Jakob could not help but wake up breathing loudly. Noticing on the side, there was someone, Jakob sat on the side of his bed.

"Helga," Jakob said. Caressing his shoulder, he eyed Helga who did not say a word until she got close.

"Are you an etherian?"

"No."

"Your wounds heal faster than anyone I've seen. Even that medicine couldn't regenerate one's body this fast."

"Do I look etherian to you?"

"No, but I did saw a footage of you from of the Sanctum Drones. Really, you killed a belua with a chokehold. Hard not believe someone who can do that unless you say that you are born strong?"

"I am born strong," Jakob grinned, and then wiped his face. "I have brute strength. That's all."

"Interesting," she touched her lower lip. "So, looks like you got some privilege now. You would not mind taking one room. It is yours until you get bored with doing for Haven or you die."

"Hard to believe when there others want a piece of this place."

"Well, there are complaints that you rose too fast in one go. However, we have the policy that those who do things for Haven are always. You got the first blood on the first etherian kill. Not only will that it bring us benefits. The Boss was happy enough to provide you with these benefits."

"If I was a paranoid man, I'd be wondering why you would take a rookie seriously."

"Please, take it as an investment. So when there are priority missions that we needed, someone can handle. We will go to you. Or is this going to be your last job?"

Jakob looked down and then shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

"See? That is why we welcome you among us. I hope that you would continue working for Haven."

Jakob shook Helga's hand. After that, she left without a noise and left Jakob to rest. Alone with his thoughts, he decided that despite putting a bullet inside Dion's head. There was no joy or sense of accomplishment. The momentary anger that he once felt vanished, douse by something cold. Killing Dion Bismark would not matter, but fate was not so kind to make it easy for Jakob. Although he had done the killing, there was no way to know if it was right. Still, he did it because he thought morbidly. It was a small resistance of the sole survivor of the world that burnt to death, of a fool who thought he would do better than this. That maybe he can change something no matter what it may be. Hope was an opium, he truly believed. No matter what era he was. No matter whether it was past or present, Jakob Recker thought that maybe, just maybe, he could change the world.

He clutched his chest. Then, a face appeared in his mind. He got up from the bed and took the spare clothes. His destination set to the Sanctum. As he walked out of Haven, standing straight with firm steps. Those who had eyes on the first one to kill an etherian eyed Jakob. Seeing his condition, most of them backed off and watched silently. Who would dare to provoke someone who just killed an etherian and didn't even look like injured?