ICC- Kilrick Salvage Chapter 2- On the Road to NYC

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*The Rig*

Being tired and edgy was a bit of an understatement. On the Grey side, one damaged APC and about half a squad KIA. We had done well with only one dead and some wounded. The maggots, well...., the maggots were maggots. Goddamn critters would only fuck some more and their ranks would be filled again.

While cleaning his M24 methodically, other thoughts came into mind.

Doesn't matter how many you have killed or seen killed. The sight of death still unnerves even the most callous killer. We all know its natures way of reminding us that we are all mortal.

After the rifle came the Desert Eagle. As he carefully removed the clip and un-chambered the round in the barrel, the memories of the lone maggot returned. The gun had saved his life, no doubt about that. All that stuff his parents talked about made him chuckle slightly.

"In the end you were still wrong. It was never the weapons that killed us, it was ourselves".

After going through his rucksack, Eric pulled out a book on self-defense and began reading.
 
THe others in the rig were trying to find sleep in the confines of the rig, the bumps and turns in the road weren't making it easy. But they were worn out and slowly, sleep would catch them. Wolf was checking on the wounded man who had come to us in Maggotville. "Wounds are healing ok. He should be ok tomorrow."

I knew what Rama was thinking. It could be the girl, but it could be any of us. Deeds was watching as well, and gave a dry smile. For him the girl was an issue of pride and would be forfeited when the time was right. A momentary pleasure. But Deeds knew that if there was a spy, and that was a big if, then it could be near any of us.

"Hard to say. As for the Greys, if that APC was able to send a message, than the other members of his squadron will be closing around us like wolves around a wounded bear."

Edden smirked.

"Next time we probably won't be so lucky. We lured them into favorable terrain and we had suprise. Next time they will be more careful." I said.

"So we set a trap for them?" Asked Rama.

"That will give them more time and force us into delay. No. We keep moving, stay fast and fleet, and hopefully lose them." I said. I didn't like the idea of having a pitched battle with a squadron of Grey APCs. We might get lucky and next time leave one of their tin cans smoking, but at what price?

Rama was still watching, "And the spy?"

"Hard to say. If there is a spy." I added. "The thing about a spy is that it makes you paranoid. Our mission and presence was well known at the vil, and there could well be leaks there. It could be that they followed us to Ollie's and considering the time spent at Maggotville, just got lucky to catch us before we left."

"Sounds convenient." Said Rama.

"Sounds too convenient." I added. "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they are not out to get you."

Then I left him to go up to the cabin. Jake was still driving.

"Want to switch?" I offered.

"Nah." Said Jake. Thinking about Ziej.

I let him be quiet for awhile, and that drifted into hours. Back in the rig, most of the others were asleep now. I began to drift away.

Jake drove relentlessly South. It was the way they would expect us to go. It was predictable, but they were behind us.

Then, a few hours before daylight, he switched, north and west. I felt the change and groggily woke up.

"He always drank to much." Said Jake, finally.

"Yep." I said.

"They're after us." He said, "But they'll probably chase us South towards NY not realizing we have shifted."

"They'll know we crossed the river." I said.

"Yes, but by then they'll be South." He said. "Only question is how to go."

I was thinking about Spengler. He was moving South in a different vehicle. I didn't like the idea of sending Greys on his way. But if they were after us, they were probably on his tail as well.

We kept going north and west, until the sun crept over the mountains and we found ourselves near a dry lake. Here we stopped and, with everyone awake, we stretched and grabbed a quick bite to eat.

I was watching everyone, making sure no one drifted away. I could tell Rama was as well.

I called very one to gather around. "OK, we are going to cross the river. There are four ways to cross. Three bridges and a ferry." I pointed to the Tappen Zee Bridge, the longest of them, the Bear Mountain Bridge, a ferry crossing and the Newburgh-Beacon. “Does anyone have a preference?”
 
*Dry Lake*

"Could you provide us with any more intel before we make a decision boss?"

It was easy to find bridges. Finding unguarded and non-deteriorating ones was a different matter all together.

"The way I see it is that the Greys are following us. If we run into a bridge that is too heavily fortified or is unable to support our weight, then we are screwed. I suggest we do some recon duty and assess the situations at the bridges".
 
OCC- Ok, this is a chance for someone to pick up some story management. Each of the river crossings could have their own issues but this might be a chance to develop your own stories in some way. If no one picks up, we'll just go for one.

ICC-

I nodded. "It's been awhile since I've crossed the river and the situation changes but here's what I know."

I pointed to the lowest. "Tappen Zee. A long damn bridge but a strong one. Should be no problem with rig. Like the other's it's a toll road controlled by Men in Blue. On the otherside is an town that's usually populated by scavs."

"Next up is the ferry. Not sure about that one, if it's still operating or not. A family operation. I am not counting on that one because the ferry is too weak."

"Bear Mountain- another toll road. Near an old military base that got hit during the war. I've avoided that one."

"Newburgh Ferry- runs under the old bridge. A town near by. Irregular operation."

"ANd finally there's further north the Poughepsie Bridge- urban area and there's a town up there."
 
Jake thought about it. He liked the idea of the Tapen Zee bridge, it was sure as hell not going to collapse under the big rig, as those long bridges were built to last. He discounted the ferry altogether, as if it could even hold the rig, it would be easy to sink, just a mortar would do it. He told this thusly to Killrick.
 
I nodded. I was hoping someone might have more updated info, but no one had it or was willing to share.

I told Jake to sleep as he'd been up all night and told Reik to take the wheel. We checked our stocks and supplies, making sure the Tinker wagon was still up.

We were quick and I didn't have to offer much encouragement. The Greys were closing in. Perhaps we'd given them the slip and they were still going south.

Perhaps not.

We drank down a quick tea and ate from our supplies, and did a careful camp clean up. Reik kicked it in gear and we continued, quiet. No one had gotten much sleep during the bumpy ride, so the crew tried to catch what sleep they could. It was just as well.

I stayed up and looked over the maps. Over the bridge to gluttonville, then south towards Jersey City.

Through low hills and desolate towns without sign of the Greys or anyone else. Most of this country was vacant and abandoned. The few who had tried to survive and moved on during the war. Critters had become braver and more numerous, perhaps outpacing the Dire in population. A couple of hours passed this way.

It was midmorning when we came around the bend for the bridge. Reik pulled over and I had a look through the binoculars. It was pretty much as I remembered it, from a distance. There was a scav camp on our end made of ancient rubber tires and broken cars. Then there was an empty stretch and the toll booths. To get through the toll booths one had to cross a free fire zone which bottlenecked near the bridge. There was an ancient school bus that they would move in and out of the way to let people pass.

But of course you had to pay the toll.

The camp was pretty quiet. Only one or two figures moving about. I figured it meant that the scavs had gone into the town across the bridge.

I looked over the bridge- men in blue were pacing along the booths.

"Lock and load." I said. One need not take chances. "This shouldn't be a problem, but just in case, better to be ready."

Jake yawned, waking up. Came up next and took a look. Deeds was there as well. "What do you think?"

"Business as usual." I said.

Deeds smiled like a wolf and went back to the rig while I hoped out to check the tinker wagon again.
 
Deeds was still smiling wolfishly when he went back to the cabin. He watched as Kilrick dismounted and went back.

When Kilrick was out of earshot his whispered to Jasmin. "Looks like we're going to do an empty."

Jasmin stopped what she was doing. "An empty?"

"Yeah. The thing is full of scavs and you know we can't leave a trace cause of the Greys."

Jasmin didn't say anything but checked her clip.

Mady Stow overheard it though. "What's an empty?" She asked.

Deeds ignored her.

She asked again.

Deeds just smiled wolfishly, in his element.

Jasmin spoke. "It's slang. When we need to empty a vil of hostiles. The Greys do it to us, we do it to them. "

Edwards who had been listening commented. "You mean we're going to kill everyone there?"

"It's war doctor." Said Deeds, "It's what this is all about, isn't it."

Stowe and Edwards both looked to Jasmin, who shook her head.

But Stowe wasn't going to let this go. "What did Kilrick say."

"KIlrick? Look Doctor." Said Deeds, being patient, " Let me be clear. Soon as we cross the river we'd be just as soon as given them Greys direction. You don't think they got a spy there? Think again. How do you think they know where we are? ANd once we go, they'll be on us like flies on a wounded deer. So we can't leave any traces. No one."
 
I was checking out the cart and making sure the turbine was well stowed. I didn't want any hands to get on the cart that might damage the cargo. We had placed a tarp over the turbine, but it was a big item, and people might get greedy.

As I was checking out the item, Clara, the tinker's wife, was outside and also doing an inspection.

"Are we to part company at the bridge?" She asked.

"No, not until we unload the turbine." I said, testing the strength of the cords holding down the tarp.

"Cart's not much use to us without brahmin." She said.

"To be honest, I'd prefer not to leave you in Gluttonville. Hard to get out of there if you are riding a cart. Dire. You and Ellroy would be pretty vulnerable." I said. "But there's a free vil along the way, I can leave you there."

"You're not worried about the Greys?" She asked.

"That you're working with them or even a spy?" I asked, smiling a bit.

"Yeah." She said.

"No." I replied.

I didn't offer an explanation. It was unlike the Greys to use Tinkers. Tinkers were clannish and mobile, which made them hard to control. The Greys had made sport of exterminating Tinkers up North, but Tinkers had a habit of not forgetting past grievances. Clara was a Tinker the way a spy couldn't be. As for Angie, she had a better chance but from what I knew, they cross our path by mere chance.

"They could interogate us and find out where you went." She said.

"If they catch you, they'll probably kill you. So your main concern would be to escape and get away. Besides, you still don't know where we're going." I said.

It was true. Of anyone, the Tinkers were the least suspicious. Content with the condition of the tarp and the turbine, I did another check on the bridge before us. Still very quiet.

OCC- Ok, folks, post so I know you are still here.
 
I had my reservations about the bridge, but I was too bloody shattered to think about it. I rested for awhile during the trip, but the years don’t forgive and I wasn’t getting younger.

I laid back again, trying not to think about Maggotville or Greys, Let Kilrick worry about that, this time I was just a hired gun.

And yet, our past comes up in strangest times… I couldn’t rest this way.
So I started doing my job. I looked how the new guy was doing. His hands were healing normally, nothing to serious. Then I turned my attention to Edden and her shoulder. It was healing ok also; perhaps she would feel a little bit sore with cold weather, but other then that it was good.

I had myself a drink from my flask and tried to rest a little bit more…
 
*Enroute to Gluttonville*

"I don't like the idea. If there are scavs in town and they find out we whacked their buddies, its gonna be us who are ambushed this time".

"Well do you have a better idea", asked Kilrick.

"Look, the scavs have no clue where we are going and we aren't going to tell them either. I suggest we leak some false co-ordinates and info about us heading to a secret pre-war bunker. If that doesn't throw them off then we let the critters in Scum York finish them off".

After noticing that the girl was out of hearing distance, Eric muttered something low.

"Also, just say the word. I can put the poor girl out of her misery, quick and painless."
 
Rama still had his reservations of that woman Deeds took up. Rama may not have liked Kilrick much, but he did respect and even trust the man. He didn't have any such affection for Deeds at all. To him, this was a means to an end.

"Do we have provisions for Gluttonsville? You know we'll need lots of food if we hope to even endure a couple days."
 
I went back into the truck. Deeds was quiet and smiling, as if he was in on a private secret. I let it go.

I was thinking about other things, like our supply situation. Eric and Rama had both raised good points.

"Alright. We're going to stop in the vil. Rama, see what you can do about getting us some supplies- food and medical especially. Eric, I want you to pass the word down that we are heading South, towards a place called White Plains. Also ask what you can about the George Washington Bridge. Jake, Deeds, Jasmin, stay with the rig. this place is crazy with thieves."

"What about you?" Asked Deeds.

"I'm going to negotiate with the blue suits to see about our toll fee."
 
OCC- ok this introduces a new character. Sorry for the delay. At present he's a bit further away.

ICC-

Much further away-

A man crept into the plastic shell of a building in the early morning hours, using the darkness to cover his movements. The tribal girl that followed him mimicked his movements. She had been bought three days before, sold by her chief for food. She did not complain. So far the man had been gentle, but neither understood a word the other said.

The man would walk some paces, crouch, pause.

Where the hell are they? He wondered.

They had been chasing him now for almost a month.

Perhaps I've given them the slip. He thought.

The shadows would not matter, they would find him. They would not quit, because that wasn't part of the commands. He looked for them, knowing that chances were they would find him first and he might have only a few moments to defend himself. If they saw him first, he was finished.

The three, which he had nicknamed Larry, Mo and Curly, were talented hunted.

But there was nothing. The plastic shell building had long since been cracked open. Levels of floor revealed, as if part of the fascade of the building had been ripped off, a skull without skin.

On one part of the building are huge letters. AT&T.

He moved over broken concrete and rubble, through the vines that grew around the building and slipped inside, pulling on the leash, jerking the girl by the neck.

Inside, it was cooler. Small insects and rats crawled about. He found his light, and searched. Be quick. Time is precious.

He could feel his hands shake and he had to stop while the shakes took over. He looked for a seat and found an old plastic chair which he took shelter into.

The girl watched as the shakes took over. She had seen him suffer this before. They began in his hands and feet, and then ran up his arms and legs. She had also seen him give himself the electric shocks, though she knew not why. At first she thought it was a form of cruel pleasure, as some tribals often partook.

She could have escaped in that moment for the man was vulnerable. But where would she go? So instead she watched as the shakes wracked his body like a terrible storm, then slowly subsided.

Calmer now, he breathed, and watched the girl.

"I'm sorry for this." He said.

She didn't understand, and he knew that. But it didn't make the guilt easier.

For an hour he searched until he found the entrance below. Using the light as a beacon he went down into the bottom of the plastic building, until he came to a room. Using a battery pack, he was able to hot wire the electrical systems he needed. Not much, but enough.

Then the long complex process of hooking in.

The girl watched, and occassionally the man threw her something to eat, although he ate nothing at all. He was nervous, impatient.

Later he removed some wiring from his pack and plugged it into a unit in the wall. The head piece he wired around the girl's head. It was uncomfortable. Pieces stuck into her ears, in her nose, into her mouth. It was tight and illfitting. But she didn't complain. It was not the way she had been raised.

Than the man start tapping away at his keyboard, a thin laptop computer which he had rewired and rebuilt for his own specifications.

Wired in. Now looking for a way into the system, into the core. Backdoors. Watch out for the trace. FireTrap. No, another way.

The man kept typing. Trying to find ways, frustrated. It wasn't supposed to be this hard.

He looked to the entrance, feeling trapped. Wondering if he was a mouse that had come for the cheese, and the cats were closing in.

(Further away, a light appears in the sky over New York.)

Then a message on a dark screen.

"LOGAN???"

He typed quickly. "SARAH?"

The response. "I AM AFRAID."

"Don't be, I am trying to get you out." He typed.

On the screen. "I LOVE..."
Then the screen went white, brilliantly.

And something

(The light is now passing over the river)

"DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWER."

Although he knew the answer, he typed the question. "Who are you?"

"THE AUTHORITY DEMANDS. DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO THE PUZZLE."

"I am still searching for it."

"IS IT AT YOUR LOCATION?"

"I am not sure." He typed.

"LOGAN- NO TIME FOR DELAY"

He began typing again. But then the screen went dead. Completely dead.

He stopped typing.

THen a message.

"DEAMONICUS IS HERE."

Fear now. Logan felt his breath suddenly disappear and his heart become constrain. Then the thumping. RUn. Run now.

He got up and didn't bother to unplug or disconnect. There was no time. He ran. Out. Escape.

(far away members of Kilrick's group see the light on the southern horizon. A blink and it's gone).

The girl watched him go, unsure of what he was doing. She starts to follow him but the cords attaching the headset to the wall are pulled, pulling her back. She tries to remove the headset, but it is difficult and she doesn't know how to take it off, the technology foreign.

Logan is running now. He has taken only the few things in his back. He has not even reached for the Gauss pistol.
It's a trap.
It's a trap.
All he can think of is that he has been caught in a snare and the three are near.

He pulls himself through the vines that are strangling the dead plastic building and runs headlong away, far.

He keeps running. He doesn't see the light moving in the sky. Not even as it slams into the ruined building, but he sees it as it turns into a brilliant fireball.

He sees the light before he feels the impact.

The explosion rocks the ground under him and he falls, turning. The roar of the explosion, like that of an angry demon rolls across the ground, carrying before it dust and debries.

ONly then does he think of the tribal girl, who remained in the plastic shell of the building, unable to follow.

The ground continues to shake for a long moment, or perhaps that's his body, the after affects of the shocks, or perhaps that's his fear.

He looks about, looking for the three. But they are not around.

Deamonicus has more than one weapon.

Logan sits up, and dusts off his pants. He will have to find another way in the system.
 
OCC: I’m taking Stokes character in the story. I’ll make a division about the new character in 3rd perspective with my other character, Wolf, in the 1st perspective.



-Stokes-

He woke up. His wounds hurt immensely. He was inside somekind of vehicle. His hands all patched up. It seemed that someone had been working on his wounds. But now he needed somekind of pain-killers. He lifted his head to look around, not seeing anyone. He heard voices outside the vehicle: Two men talking to each other. He tried to get up, slowly, remembering what had happened so wrong.

The experience in maggotville was still burned in his memory… the horrors of those creatures… lurking in the dark…

He thought for sure that he wouldn’t make it, he knew how lucky he was… and that luck was probably due to the unexpected help of those mercenaries fighting the maggots themselves, and the fact that the hive fought in groups and probably thinking of him as easy prey, gathered their attention to stronger opponents.

With a little effort he got up, but everything going in circles. He tried to focus. His mouth felt dry and his stomach sick. Probably the wounds had infected.

He looked out the rig and saw to men talking to each other. He tried to reach them and talk to them, probably trying to ask them who they were and where they were.

He got out of the rig, approached them, he was starting to feel sick again and couldn’t breed well. A few words came out of him:

“Could you…help me? I don’t feel very…”

Suddenly everything got blurry and he fell down to the ground.


-----------------------------------------

-Wolf-

Kilrick went towards the bridge, negotiating our way in. I got out of the rig with Eric, we were talking about past experience and places we knew. I was asking about his Asian heritage. He seemed a good kid, it was unusual to find blokes like this acting as mercenaries.

We were outside, I was lighting a ciggie myself when suddenly we heard a voice:

“Could you…help me? I don’t feel very…”

Then all of a suddenly he fell down.

I looked at the men on the ground. It was the one we picked up in maggotville and whom I had been working on. But we didn’t knew anything about him so I immediately took out my magnum and called the rest of the team.

“Everybody! Our friend Mr. bloody stranger has waked up!” I yelled




(Edited)
 
*Logan in the old city ruins near Gluttonville*


Logan sat there. It could've been 10 seconds, 10 minutes or 10 hours. Time faded.

His thoughts were roaming free.

Maybe it would be easier if he just gave up. He could have a little teaparty with Larry, Mo and Curly. Or at least tea for him and oil for them. And after that? Peace. Silence. Death. Far away from this godforsaken wasteland.

But no, he couldn't give up. He couldn't leave Sarah. Not now, not ever. It would've been so much simpler if he had been a man of faith, he could've thought he would see her after he died. But he didn't believe that. Molecules dissipate, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. No afterlife.

The shakes were coming back, they brought him back to reality. He spread his fingers and he sat there watching his hand shake.

Only on thought remained: 'For Sarah'.

As he looked at the crater, he realised he had only been sitting here for a couple of seconds. The flames were still burning high and the smoke was only starting to rise. The impact would attract his three little friends. Time to get moving...

As the shakes subsided he jumped up and started the routine he knew all too well: Run silently for a couple of meters, crouch, watch, listen and start over again.

He'd need to go to Gluttonville for supplies. Damn that place sucks. Those fat half diseased merchants, the scavs, the backstabbing thieves. But it was the closest "safe" haven and they had a lot of good merchandise...

He had been there before in another life. He would be able to call in some long overdue favors...

Unfortunately Gluttonville is surrounded by Dire on this side of the river. They would rip him to shreds if he went in alone, damn beasts.

Logan headed towards the main road into Gluttonville. He hoped to piggyback in with some caravan or travelers, maybe even scavs. Let's just hope they don't kill him just for fun and keep his gear.
 
OCC- Hey Karkow- I think we picked up Stokes before the battle with the Greys.

ICC-

Rama was moving through the village of the scavs looking for a place to stock up on local grub, but few of the shops seemed opened. IN fact most seemed to have been shut down permanently.

The first he had peered through, the tables had been bare, and the owner had merely glared at him while he tried to negotiate.

At the second, Rama was more direct. "What do you got for food. I need supplies for a dozen men for about a week, if you got it."

"Well I don't" said the shop keeper, an older woman missing most of her teeth. "I got barely enough to feed myself."

"So why are you still here?" Asked Rama.

"Where the hell else am I to go?" Said the woman. "I got some tea I can sell ya and a bit of dried jerky."

"That's all?" Asked Rama.

"You're lucky you got that." Said the woman. "Ain't you noticed that there hardly ain't a soul here anymore."

"Yeah. Seems like everyone has moved off." Said Rama

"Or got pushed off. They don't mind me cause they think I'm crazy and just good for an occassional fuckin since all the pussy left." Said the woman.

"Pushed off?"

"Change management, changed rules. That's the way of it. But these scum suckers will suck ya dry. And if you don't give, they move ya off or kill ya." Said the woman. "But that don't bother me. I'm mostly dead."

The woman brought her limited stock and Rama paid her.

He was walking back when he felt a tug on his leg and saw a little girl, Dirt was smeared across her face and she needed a bath, but her deep eyes stopped him.

"You shouldn't have come here." The little girl said. "This is a bad place." Then she looked around her, and scampered off.

______________

I heard the commotion behind me. The man we had picked up at Maggotville had some how gotten loose, but had stumbled. Wolf was working him over already. The man was lucky to have survived a night near Maggotville, but at the moment he seemed like little more than extra baggage.

I proceeded through the scav camp towards the bridge, around the barricades of rubber tires and derelict cars that created the toll barrier. It had been awhile since I'd been here, and it looked different. Fewer scavs, and the people seemed quiet and suspicious. Perhaps the town across the river had become dangerous.

But it didn't feel right.

On the bridge I could see the blue suits. THe suit were the remnants of uniforms worn by the bridgekeepers in the time before the great Cataclysm. But there were fewer of them.

But there were others, new management. A wandering band of ravagers perhaps.

"Halt! Those who would pay the bridge must pay the toll." Said the blue suit. I recognized him by the blond bristle of his beard.

"Cliff, I called out. WHat's the toll to get across."

"KIlrick?"

"Yeah. I got a job across the river." I said.

Cliff spoke to one of the ravagers nearby.

"Where's the job?" Called out Cliff.

"None of your fucking business." I replied.

"That's being unneighborly." He said.

Normally Cliff would never have asked such a question as bad form. But things had changed.

"I've got a job far to the west. Pennsylvania if you have to know."

They spoke.

"What's in the cart?" Called CLiff.

"Business." I said. "None of yours."

"Management wants to know."

I called in on the radio. "Jake, they're giving me a big of trouble. How about a display of our bargaining position."

Then to Cliff. "Observe our vehicle."

I didn't watch because I had an idea what Jake would do.

I heard a shoosh that went into the air, and then a loud bang. I also heard Gally fire off a burst of the .50. It was all display. I was keeping my eye on the .50 cal they had set atop the toll booths. I was also aware that a few of the new staff were moving with what looked like LAWS rocket launchers.

"Management doesn't need the details." I said. " Suffice that we need to cross and can cross here or elsewhere, so it's in our mutual interest to negotiate fairly on a need to know basis. And you don't need to know."

The two spoke, finally CLiff said.

"Management says it could make things difficult for you."

"And we could raze this place to the ground. But where would that get us?"

Cliff seemed nervous. "They want something of value."

"Name a reasonable price." I said.

The silent one was watching our camp. Then he spoke to Cliff.

"They want one of your women." Said Cliff.

_________________

Eric was hoping to find someone to speak to in order to pass along false rumors but everyone seemed shy. Or scared.

He would stop one of the few scavs he saw to speak, but they would brush away from him and walk in another direction. After a few minutes he need only take a step towards a scav and they woudl turn the other way.

And there was a scent in the air.

He saw the little girl that Rama spoke to earlier. The girl watched Eric with her big dark eyes from under a burnt out van.

"Hey little girl, what's your name."

"Ama." Said the girl. Closer, the girl smelled vagually of smoke.

"Where is everyone Ama."

"They don't want to talk to you." Said Ama.

"Why not?" Asked Eric.

But Ama had slipped away and began running back through the scav tents. Eric, not sure what to do followed, through narrow passages of refuse and discarded crap, through hovels made of old car parts and scrap metal. And the smell got stronger, yet Eric couldn't place it.

He saw Ama run around a corner, and Eric quicken his pace to catch up.

When he came around the corner he saw the bodies, piled and burnt, their corpses blackened. Ama was watching the corpses, perhaps expecting they would move.

"They're dead." She said, her voice without expression.

"Who killed them."

"My parents." Said Ama, pointing to the burnt bodies.

"Those are your parents?" Asked Eric.

AMa nodded.

"Who did that?"

But Ama shook her head, and then ran away, slidding her body into a drain and into the depth of the sewars.
 
*Bridge Settlement*

Nauseated from the scent of burning flesh, Eric decided to head back to the rig and report. As he turned around however, he felt a powerful punch land square into his stomach.

Gasping for air, Eric saw that his attacker was a 6" black bouncer from hell. Behind him stood three guards, all with leather armor and shotguns.

"What the fuck are you doing here? I better get a good answer or your leaving this town in a body bag", he replied.

The situation wasn't good. If he couldn't come up with a good explanation, Eric would be dead.

"Some fucking brat grabbed my pack and ran off with it. I chased her down here but she got away through that grate", Eric replied, still gasping for breath.

The black man pulled out his radio and started speaking.

"Hey boss, looks like we found the lone newcomer. Says some girl stole his shit and slipped back into the sewer system. What do you want us to do?"

After a few seconds, a heavy set voice blared back over static.

"That girl is our number one priority you got that? Bring a squad of men with you and search every inch of that sewer. As to the newcomer, get what info you can from him WITHOUT killing or maiming. Playing hardball with his buddies ain't going to get us anywhere."

"Roger that boss".

"Well looks like you got two choices stranger. As much as I'd like to put some hurting on ya, I have some unfinished business. However before I leave, Teech really wants to know why your buddies want to cross the bridge. So you can either co-operate or take the hard road?"

"You know what, you can kiss my ass cause I ain't telling you shit", replied the asian.

"Wrong answer brother".

The black man delivered a quick punch to Erics face before leaving him with Teech.

"Why do you types always got to take the hard road huh? Since we gotta release you anyways, why not just give me the info and save yourself some trouble?".

"Because I don't squeal on my com......"

Before he could finish his sentence, the interrogation began. For every un-answered question, Eric would either recieve a kick or punch. Knowing that no experienced interrogator takes quick answers, the unlucky asian had to stay resolute and take the punishment. Only after half an hour of pain did Eric finally drop the bogus information.

"Alright, (cough) (cough), all fucking right. Look, Kilrick said something about an old military bunker about 100 clicks to the north of this settlement", replied Eric

"My boss says you guys are heading to Philly too. Is that true?"

"Yeah its true. (wheeze) Were supposed to whack some big whig, grab some object, and return it to our employers".

"What's the object?"

" I don't know what it is. (HRMPHS up red phlegm and spits it out) I don't even know the name of our target. I'm just supposed to provide backup".

Before he could ask another question, Teechs radio beeped and the same heavy set voice blared through the static.

"Hey Teech, the newcomers want their man. I want you to escort him back as a show of our dedication to his safety".

"On my way boss". The interrogator flicked off the radio and turned towards Eric.

"I wanted to get more info but I see that your buddies are getting impatient. Lets go".

The interrogator and the asian both made their way back to the rig.
 
Edden got up, her body making a sick creaking sound as she strecthed. The devil did give her much for her to survive all this. In a brief lapse through time she saw the Devil, a man of tall stature and flesh like white ice and eyes red like the pits of hell.

As she watched she saw Eric and some men come closer, and the first look she saw they roughed up the asian, and that didn't sit well with her. His lip was busted and his face looking like it took a good beating.

She picked up the SPAS-12 and pointed it one flanking Eric. The chamber was loaded with a slug round, meaning no scatter and one definte path.

"What the fuck you do to my friend, dip shit." She pulled back the pump on the shotgun. "You arlight, Eric?"
 
[edit]should be in order now thx to welsh[/edit]



*Logan at the main road into Tappen Zee*

Logan reached the main road without encountering any problems. Noone in sight so he decided to hide in an empty building next to the road until someone showed up.

After several hours he finally spotted a caravan heading towards Tappen Zee.

He stood up and walked to the middle of the road. He folded the right side of his long jacket behind his back so that his scorpio would be visible and easy to reach. And then he waited...

As the caravan came closer he noticed that the caravan had only a small number of guards. As they approached the guards started checking surrounding buildings to make sure not to be ambushed by possible companions of Logan, but of course there were none.

Logan noticed that wounded or dead guards had been put on top of the carts.

The caravan stopped at about 10 meters from Logan and a guard stepped forward.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Nothing much, i just want to accompany you towards Tappen Zee, maybe to cross over. "

"Why the fuck would you wanna go there? Shit, I don't even want to go there, even if i have to."

Logan didn't really understand the reply of the guard, Tappen Zee had a viable trading business, mostly driven by scavenging from the city across the river. Free of harmful radiation or biological agents, it was a caravan's wet dream: lots of goods, lots of booze, even a few whores.

A man had jumped off the cart, his leg appeared to be in pretty bad shape.

"Logan? Logan, that you?" The wounded man asked.

"Yeah, that's me." Logan replied.

As the wounded man approached, Logan recognized him. He was the chief bodyguard of Fat Francesco, the biggest merchant in Tarrytown, across the river from Nyack, the towns linked by the bridge. Francesco was more or less the unofficial mayor of Tappen Zee. Logan had done some jobs for him a long time ago.

"Shit, Little John, what the hell are you doing in a caravan? Aren't you supposed to guard the fat bastard?" Logan asked.

"I wish... He's dead Logan, so is almost everyone in town. They just killed them, they didn't think they were useful, so they just killed em. They kept me alive to bring them supplies, that's all." Little John replied.

"What the hell are you talking about John? Who killed them? And how for fucks sake?" Logan said.

"It doesn't matter anymore, they are dead and this will be my last run. Don't ask what I can't tell you, if they find out, I'm dead." Little John replied as he turned back to the carts and yelled "Let's move out, we have no time to waste! You all know what they will do if the supplies get there late!"

The caravans slowly came up to speed and started moving towards the outskirts of Tarrytown.

Logan tried to pry some information loose from the other guards but it was a futile attempt, they were all scared shitless.

Eventually Logan walked back up to the cart on which Little John was sitting on.

"What the hell are you looking for in TZ?" Little John asked.

"Supplies, technology, maybe even transport."

"You wont find much in town anymore, there are barely any stores left and those that are still open only sell basic necessities. But you could try the old stashes. Remember where you had to steal the schematics 3 years ago? The stash should still be there. As for transport, you're fucked, if there is something still running in that town it's theirs, don't try to steal it, you'll be dead before you leave town."

"Who the hell are THEY goddamnit! Why wont you tell me!" Logan yelled out. This was way to secretive and frustrating.

"I will tell them you are with me, that should keep em off your back for a while, but get out of town as soon as possible. Now look sharp, we are almost entering the ville. Act as if you're a guard, or you'll draw unwanted attention to yourself." Little John replied, ignoring Logans outburst.

________________________________________

*Tarrytown, on the east bank of the Hudson River, near the Tappen Zee bridge.*

As Logan entered the town he recognized the foul smell of burned flesh. Something terrible had transpired here. Nothing was as he remembered it, however there still were some men in the old familiar uniforms, but they looked different somehow, they looked scared shitless. All stores were as good as empty. The only laughter to be heard in town came from these weird type military people without recognizable uniforms. Raiders? Marauders? Unlikely, they wouldn't stick around, nor would they force John to make caravan runs for their supplies.

Logan quickly made his way to the old stashes he knew the merchants had. Being an old thief had it's perks. Most stashes had been found and cleaned out, but some were still intact. He bagged all he could use and carry. Some technological items that would allow him to make a very basic laptop kinda thingy, some ammo for both his guns, some easy to trade things like drugs and some money. He was careful enough not to take too much, as that would slow him down if he had to make a run for it.

After making a quick sweep through town, he had all he needed and now it was time to move on. This town was even more dangerous than it used to be.

He had seen a salvage crew on the bridge, they did not seem friendly with the current rulers of this town and seemed to be headed in the same general direction as he was planning to go.

Logan had seen some of the salvagers and apparently they were an odd mix of mercs, but that would be great for his purposes. That might mean he could join them for a while.

As Logan approached he saw some soldiers bringing a roughed up man back to the group. That confirmed his assessment of the salvage group not being friendly with the local rulers, but it also might make the group much harder to join.

"Since your boss seems to be busy negotiating, i'll just ask who's next in line." Logan said to the first member of the crew he encountered.

"That would be me or Deeds, depending on who's asking." Jake replied.

"I'll go straight to the point: I want to join up or a least accompany you out of town, past the dire. As soon as possible I might add, this town has turned to shit." Logan said.
 
OCC- ok, I will post later, but this is just a quick heads up. The Tappen Zee Bridge area is not Gluttonville.
 
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