Who: Nate Pryor and Neena Thurman Where: The Future! What: reuniting, looking for Scot When: The morning of 02/26/2213 Warnings/Rating: PG-13 Status complete
Neena sighed as she got closer to Nate. He was a little off track, assuming Scott hadn’t moved, but that wasn’t a big deal, because he probably had moved, anyway.
She sprinted toward Nathan once she thought she could make it in one go. Hopefully he would recognize her. There weren’t that many people, and she was as pale as ever. “Nate!”
Nate stuck his head out of the shelter he had found when he heard that voice, and he grumbled as he rolled out, grabbing his things. “Hello? Neena?” He blinked, then spotted her and waved.
“Hey you, so you got dragged along, huh?”
He sighed and facepalmed. “Sorry.”
She’d guessed correctly. Fantastic. “I didn’t think a little guy like you could move like that.” She went into his shelter, sitting down with a sigh. “It’s okay. I think I’ll be able to help you out, a bit. Scott's here, I saw him use his powers earlier. I just don’t know where.”
“I learned a lot while dreaming of seventeen years of post-apocalyptic life.” He grinned at her and dug out some water, handing it over. ”I dunno. I was a little distracted.” He had beaten feet and kept going.
“We can probably find him if we go out and head in that general area.”
He paused. “Are you okay?”
“That’s the plan.” She shook her own flask, to show that she still had water of her own. She was being very careful with it. “I’m fine. I don’t remember time traveling before, but I know this isn’t my first time at the rodeo.” She leaned back, glad to have a moment’s rest. “Is there anyone else you know that might have been dragged along?”
Nate nodded, and slid his water away, then grinned. “At least we’re prepared for the crazy sauce.” He chuckled. “This is mine in this world, but not even close to my first time in the dreams, if what I think is true is.” He sighed. “My life is going to get so odd.”
He shook his head. “Nah. You only got dragged along because of what we were to each other in the other world. Stupid dream brain and powers.”
Neena nodded. “That’s what I figured. You were connected to Scott?” She pulled out her gun and checked it for the hundredth time. Still working, still oiled, still clean. Good.
Nate scrunched up his face as he tried to make sense of it. “Not connected so much as receptive to his presence? And unwilling to let go? And apparently having just enough power to argue with... whoever that was?”
He sighed. “I am sorry.” He nodded as he checked his gun. He had oiled it while waiting for her. “Oh, here!” He offered up some chocolate dipped pretzels. They were slightly stale, but, yes. He had dug them out of a hole in the ground.
Neena laughed at the pretzels. “I’m good. Keep ‘em, you’ll need the calories more than me.” She took a deep breath, trying to figure everything out. “Do you think you could use your powers to find your dad?”
He smiled a little. “I dunno. I’ve been resting from hiking since I got here. But I could try?” he nodded, then glanced around, and shifted, settling into a meditation stance, one he had learned in his previous apocalyptic future. He let his mind flow, and reached for that deeper place where the egg of his powers glowed, and gently prodded it into a warmer glow
And then he reached.
It took a long moment and then, suddenly, he could feel his father and he knew, without knowing how, which direction he was in.
He lost the connection, but grinned. “He’s at the ranch, and I know how to get there.” He grinned at her.
Neena waited patiently, keeping quiet to avoid disturbing Nathan. When he found Scott, and said where he was, Neena got an idea. “Okay, we should go there first. I know where the Ranch is.” Was. She shook her head. “I have an idea, but I want to get the group together, first. You never want to split up if you can help it.”
Nate raised an eyebrow, then nodded. “Then let’s go be wild people.” he led the way out, slowly and carefully, then pointed. “Thataway.” Over a hill and away from most of the destroyed buildings.
“We definitely need to find him, and shelter.”
“Yes to both. Can you jog, or did the telepathy knock you out?” He was so little, she was afraid she’d leave him eating her dust.
“Yes I can. I’m small though, so no running ahead.” He poked her. Then he sighed. “I wish I had about twenty things from home. Come on. Let’s get started.” And he started off away, hoping they could make the distance quickly.
“Name ‘em.” Neena said, as they started off. “I have a plan. Or an idea, really.”
“My offroad rollerskates, my Psimitar, my staff, my hiking boots, an atv and gas for it, or a solar cell … oh hey. We could do that... we can make us a solar vehicle.” He nodded and glanced up as he started off faster. “Lemme explain...”
And he did, describing how they could do it as they walked...
Some of those things Neena could get her hands on in the past, and some she couldn’t. She’d just have to hope she’d think of them when the time came to put everything together. She kept her eye on Nathan as they went, to judge what kind of shape he was in.
Nate was thankfully in a much better and stronger body than before, and he walked, bringing skills and strength along from his former life. he glanced at her, thinking on things as he went.
It was a long jog, there would be plenty of time to think. FIN