Access Level: Intermediate (assigned at the request of Red Hot)
The story of Explorer Grigio about the secrets of Red Hot.
Before I met Red Hot, I carefully studied the rumours. They were contradictory — sources reported that he changed after the promotion to the rank of Arsonist. Became angrier and it's as if he was obsessed with his car.
I arrived at the right camp just after the massacre. Red Hot was expecting me — he immediately took me to a closed hangar and drilled me with his eyes:
— Do you remember the terms, Explorer?
— Yes. Your story will appear in our archives, but it will be classified.
— Okay… — he nodded with clear relief. — I can't let my people know before the time comes.
Red Hot glanced at me again and invited me to the locked compartment of the hangar with a relaxed gesture. There, in the bright lights, stood an unknown car. When I looked closely, I realized that it was once a “Cerberus”, but it was no longer the same. The armoured monster, grinning in the dusty air with impressive shotguns and sharp edges of massive armour, was not yet finished.
— Wild Fire — Red Hot said in a reverent whisper, eyes glued to his monstrous child. — The flame took a friend from me once. Then I swore not to touch the fire again, but the Wasteland forced me to break my oath. Now I burn in the name of my own — but I haven't forgotten.
The firestarter gently stroked the armoured wing.
— You recognize the “Cerberus”, right? It also became part of “Wild Fire” — just like my friend's soul. He didn't leave me, I could smell it! His spirit led me to an abandoned set, and there I found everything I needed. The “Cerberus” was reborn, and now its iron flesh will contain the roaring soul of my comrade. Together with me, he will walk through the Wasteland like a fire devil and leave an eternal burn on the body of the world.
While saying this, Red Hot did not take his eyes off “Wild Fire”. Maybe it was just a reflection from the lamps, but at that moment, for a fraction of a second, it seemed to me that his silhouette too was flaming.
E. Grigio