Now that "Suffer the Children", Book Two of "The Lost and the Damned" has concluded, there is an opportunity to explore other stories in the uniquely Apocalyptic setting of the parent story. The most frequent request (and one I had wanted to explore) was to learn more about the supporting characters of the main story - who were Breaker and Juliana before they met Azriel Kain?
So, let's do that, shall we? Herein, I will tell the origin of Blake Bridger, better known as "Breaker", and his life and times before that fateful day in Redhaven. I hope you enjoy it!
PROLOGUE - THE BREAKER
"Give it a try now!" Blake called down from the corrugated metal roof. He had found a solar panel during his last foray into the Wastes and brought it back home. Electricity was in scarce supply here in their small settlement. A lot of things were in short supply.
Ramshackle was aptly named. Formally the only settlement on the desert world of Mirage, it was founded by the survivors of the Ironhome Dead Reckoning. Accounts of the fate of that Great Ark varied - some claimed it was lost in space during the initial founding of the colony, others said that the mighty vessel was totally destroyed when it crashed onto the surface. The only thing the legends could agree on was that any hopes of building a thriving colony on this unforgiving world were lost alongside the ship that had brought them here.
It was a harsh climate - the arid soil was not very arable, and the community could barely grow enough food to sustain its population of 108 citizens. The dusty winds contained metallic particles - enterprising "dust farmers" had devised a variety of equipment to collect the meager amount of resources. But the greatest peril was the rumor of small bands of raiders that lived in the rocky sands of the Wastes. From time to time, scavengers who had gone out on runs simply... never returned.
"It's working! Come see!" called his sister from below. Blake climbed down from the rooftop into the shack that he shared with Fran. A light strip was glowing, faintly and intermittently - but as long as the panel was kept clean and the batteries held a charge, they would have electricity in their little home. Blake could make use of that if he happened to find any high tech out there.
"Frances! You've got work to do!" called a voice from outside. Old Jin, the village elder, relied on his little sister to help with the community greenhouse. In a settlement this small, on a world this unforgiving, everyone had a role to fulfill and a job to do. Some were safer than others.
"I gotta go, Brake," said Fran as she hugged her big brother. "Be safe out there and come back to me, you hear?" She ran outside to help the old woman tend to the farm.
Blake took a walk around the settlement, checking to see if anything needed repair. The patchwork walls were of great importance. Raider attacks were almost unheard of - though the community was small, the raider bands were smaller still, and disorganized - but it was a necessary deterrent. Native life on Mirage was sparse, but like any ecosystem, it came in two sorts - things that eat you, and things that are eaten. Nobody wanted to be part of the latter.
The wind generators atop the walls and the highest buildings turned lazily in the breeze - but during dust storms, when the output from the solar collectors was diminished, they generated most of the settlement's power needs.
The rickety gate was operating properly - though, like anything else on this world with exposed moving parts, it required frequent cleaning and lubrication. He checked in with Hap, the moisture farmer, to ensure the condensers and their solar panels were operating at their maximum efficiency. Nazari, the prospector, was tinkering with a wind scoop. An electromagnetic mesh inside would capture the metallic particles during a windstorm. It didn't yield much, but it was safer than the infrequent survey missions that Nazari would otherwise have to undertake. Plus, he was handy and often helped Blake with his own projects in the village.
"Ho, Breaker!" called Nazari as Blake walked past. "Next time you're out on a run, can you see if you can find me some copper wire and some magnets, neh?"
"Sure thing, Naz," replied Blake. He wasn't sure what Nazari was going to do with them, but ultimately it would be for the benefit of the community. Batteries, thought Blake. We're definitely going to need more batteries, too.
Every salvage run, every foray into the Wastes, meant that Breaker had to venture a little farther out to find useful materials for the community. There couldn't be much out there - it wasn't a well-traveled world, certainly not on any trade route. Off-worlders rarely made contact - the citizens of Ramshackle were wary of outsiders and had little to trade, unless "grubs" like him found something valuable like rare metals or an intact mechano-core or something.
But Nazari's wind scoop brought something else to mind. Blake knew that the metallic particles in the wind had to be coming from someplace - and old Nazari hadn't found any sizeable surface mineral deposits nearby. The only other option was from wreckage - something large, that had undergone considerable destruction in Mirage's dusty atmosphere. Blake was sure that the Dead Reckoning (or at least part of it) had survived its descent to the planet's rocky, sandy surface. And that great vessel would be any scavenger's dream. What wonders it must hold!
Breaker hoisted his heavy iron wrench onto his shoulder. Among his possessions, it was the one item that was consistently immaculate - clean, well-oiled, and reliable. It had been his grandfather's tool - and his grandfather's before that. It may have been as old as Ramshackle itself.
Blake looked out to the dusty horizon, wondering where the venerable old Ark might be. By my grandfather's wrench, I will find the Dead Reckoning and tear it down. And if I can find its computer core, I can bring true prosperity to my people.
