“Man, am I hungry. You know, this is the first time I’ve been hungry since I woke up. I’ve eaten but I haven’t been hungry, you know what I mean?” Cass said as he neared the Wasteland Pantry.

Smiley floats a step behind him, “you don’t really need food anymore but you overused the engine. It wants extra fuel to make up for the loss.”

“Makes sense,” Cass says as he turns to see the front of the eatery and droplets of rain begin to fall on his face. “Looks like rain, we should head in.”

The Wasteland Pantry, a cafeteria-like food service that runs and feeds all throughout the wastelands outside the cities and their giant walls.

“If you all have Cold Light replicators then why have this?” Smiley said as he floated up to the sign, Rain drops sliding down the large letters.

“Replicators are great but nothing beats a real cooked meal and not everyone can cook or has the means to cook so they saw an avenue to make a profit.” Cass said as he entered the building. The eatery is set up much like a cafeteria. There is one long line to choose your own food at a large counter and rows of tables with bench seats in front of it and headache-inducing overhead lights.

Cass gets in line but finds himself unable to choose. “You seem troubled, young man.” standing in front of him is a tall blonde woman wearing a white suit with a golden metal badge in the shape of two hands on her chest pocket.

“I’m alright, just finding it hard to choose.”

“I personally recommend the chicken fingers and banana pudding. Odd combination, I know, but it is a favorite of mine.” She said with a small smile before leaving the line to talk to other people. 

Smiley appears next to Cass, “what’s with the weirdo?”

Cass orders some chicken fingers but leaves out the banana pudding. ‘Looks to be an AngelOutreach member. They are the charitable chapter of the AngelOS company. They always weirded me out because they are like, non-religious religious people.’

Smiley stares at the woman and the woman turns and looks straight at him and waves. “Cass, she’s looking right at me. This is weird.” 

Cass sneakily looks at the woman then at him before shrugging. ‘I’m sure it’s fine.’

He starts to worry but a moment later, another woman walks through him and over to the woman. “I swear she was looking right at me.”

Cass sits down and begins eating before the woman walks over to the opposite side from where he is sitting, “May I join you?”

Cass motions for her to sit. “Thank you. I realized I hadn’t made proper introductions earlier. My name is Delphine, I am a seer for the charity. A gift that was given to me by our founder, William Grey.”

Cass looks at Smiley, ‘See? Very culty.’

“I use my gift to look at someone’s soul. It helps me understand the path they are walking so I can better help them. You looked troubled and I wished to extend this gift to you. May I?” She said as she extended her hands.

Cass looks at Smiley who just shrugs. “Why not?” Cass said as he placed his hands in hers.

Her eyes begin to glow bright gold before they darken and black roots begin to grow from her eyelids and stretch around her head and tears run down her face. “The Ghost King, vassal of the Lord of Death. You bring death and destruction in your wake.” She barely is able to say before ripping her hands from his.

She hurls herself back from the table. “We were warned of your coming! Knight, this is the Ghost King. Do what you must!”

Cass stands up, “Hey, I’m sorry for whatever I did but I have no idea what you are talking about. Please calm down.” He can barely say before a metal hand the size of Cass’ chest grabs his shoulder, lifting him into the air and tossing him through the nearest wall.

Exploding through the wall and rolling across the muddy ground. Emerging from the hole is a massive, armored, white and gold knight with a floating golden halo above his head. “Ghost King, For crimes foretold by our great leader, I sentence you to death.”

The large knight places his massive boot on Cass’ back and begins to crush him. He tries to grab the knight’s foot to assimilate whatever tech he has but nothing happens and the knight’s boot lifts up and slams back down.

‘I can’t breathe.’ Cass struggles under his boot before finally being able to slide out from under him and forcing the knight to stumble. Getting back to his feet, Cass Focuses and begins to transform into his cheetah form but is stopped as the knight’s massive fist slams into Cass’ chest. 

He flies into a nearby wall and slumps to the ground. ‘He’s not gonna give me the chance. I’ll have to use it.’

Cass’ eyes shift to an unnatural orange color and his chest slightly widens as the knight lifts him into the arm by one arm. “Any last words, evil one?”

“Just two.” he said as he sucks in as much air and builds up a scream so strong his chest glows like red-hot metal. 

“F**k You!” He said as he released the full might of the scream right at his head.

He looks at him completely unaffected. The knight then slams Cass into the ground and a small cassette bursts from him as he reverts.

“Final words befitting an evil being. May you seek redemption and mercy in the arms of salvation. Not that you deserve it.” The knight’s massive boot begins to descend toward his chest but stops within inches.

The knight struggles, frozen in place when Smiley’s face appears overtop the helmet’s face. “I can’t hold him for long so do something!”

Cass grabs the knight’s leg and squeezes his hand underneath the armor and a burning hot pain fills his body as metal begins seeping from every pore and filling his body before solidifying into solid black medieval armor with a black crown fixed to the helmet.

Cass grabs the knight’s legs and lifts him with ease, tossing him onto his back and getting back up on his own feet. “The tech was under the armor. Weird it didn’t count when I touched the armor.” Cass said as the knight got back up on his feet. “Figure it out later.”

“What did you do? How did you steal my grace? How dare you parade around in our sacred armor!” The knight screamed as he swung his mighty fist at Cass’ head but was stopped with ease.

“I get it now. Physical enhancement tech paired with external artificial muscles attached to armor plating. Not so fun when the fight is fair, is it?” Cass said as he tossed the knight’s hand aside and slammed his fist into his chest with all his strength. The blow, sending the knight through the hole in the wall and sliding across the floor as he lay there unconscious.

Cass reenters the room and confronts Delphine. “Next time you want to swing at me, bring a bigger bat. I promise I don’t know who the Ghost King is but I promise it isn’t me.” Cass says as he leaves the building and walks a few roads over before reverting.

“What the hell was that?” 

Smiley pops in, “I have to idea what that crazy ladies problem was but you handled it well.”

“Handled it well? I keep almost dying. I have to get stronger or at least act smarter. I’ve become complacent  because of the new powers and body.” 

Smiley stands in front of him, “My gift can only do so much. Give me your hand.”

Cass hesitates but holds out his hand.

Smiley waves his hand over his and a symbol appears with 12 circles on top of a larger circle. Each circle is empty except one that contains a smiley face.

“Everytime you find another A.I., another symbol will be added. It will unlock more of the gift’s potential.” he waves his hand and it disappears. “You will become excitingly powerful and I will do everything in my power to keep you alive until then.”

Cass’ phone begins ringing. “Oh good, that didn’t break.” Smiley looks at it, “probably built special by Queen herself. She was always manipulative so I wouldn’t put it past her to make an indestructible phone she can track and you’ll love more and more as it survives more and more. It is smart, I’ll give her that.”

Cass takes out the phone and sees it is a number he doesn’t remember and answers it. “Hello?”

A staticy transmission comes through, “Hey, the bike is ready.”

“Sock? How did you get my number?” 

“I checked you out with the guild and once I had the name, the phone was easy to track. Not many handhelds left.”

“I’m not sure if I should be impressed or worried. I’m on my way.” Cass said as he hung up.

“Alright, let’s go find out what happened to those funguys. It’s probably better that we are not here for the time being.”

Smiley looks back in the direction of the Wasteland Pantry, “A smart and safe bet. Let’s go.”