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

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OCC- Ok, corrections made- note changes in Suaside's post- For those interested- this is where we are on a real map.
http://www.thruway.state.ny.us/webcams/index.shtml

We are crossing from the East bank, Tarrytown, to Nyack. Nyack is mostly empty except for scavengers and assorted nasties.

ICC-

I was going back fairly relieved and in a good mood. It's not everyday that you resolve two problems at the same time.

As I saw it, the problem was simple. Their was a new crew in charge of the bridge, but that was no surprise. The scam on the bridge was a tax. By control of the bridge, those who owned the bridge could charge a tax for it's use. They would continue to derive rents from the bridge until another gang took over. The Blues had held it, but they had never been as strong as they should have been and were eventually overthrown. This new gang had also begun to run Tarrytown down, scattering most of the residents and forcing most of the remainder to flee. Eventually this new gang's reign of terror would end when they realized they were making no profit on the bridge. Then things would ease up and the scavengers would come back and Tarrytown would be back to normal. That's the business of politics in the wasteland, or perhaps the politics of business. Most times they are the same thing.

You get in the taxing business the risk is that someone will disposses you of your property. The risks are similar in salvage, there's always a danger that the client will try to cheat you out of your just rewards.

So I was pretty happy coming back. I was worried about Deeds, who seemed a bit trigger happy to me. I also was worried about the Greys. But if my crew had spread the word as they should have, then if the Greys showed up they would be given the wrong direction. The Greys might not believe it, but they would have to believe that the locals believed it. That might buy us some time.

Just the same I'd be happy to get out of this shithole of a town. It had gone down hill, and if that kind of decay could be expected, it didn't mean I liked being here. The new crew might crave more than women and it wasn't worth losing a few of my people over.

So when I saw Edden point a 12 gauge at one of theirs and one of theirs point a pistol to Eric's head, that Eric had gotten himself beaten up, and that our guys were starting to point their guns at their guys, and a lot of their guys were pointing guns at our guys... well, it was displeasing.

Jake called out, "Hey Kilrick, this guy wants to join up."

"Yeah." Don't they all?

I walked up to Edden and put my hand on the barrel of her 12 gauge, moving it down. "Ok, everyone, let's not get to tight on our shpincters. The deal is done."

"What deal?" Said the thug holding a gun to Eric's head.

"The deal with your boss. So ease of the pistol. Least you want a shootout which you certainly won't survive." I said walking up to Eric.

When I got there I looked at the guy sharply. "Do you mind?" Indicating the pistol.

The guy blinked, hesitated. Then nodded and put the gun down.

I leaned into Eric and said, "You ok?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I saw something I shouldn't have."

"Did you tell them what you were supposed to?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Good, now get back in the rig and have Wolf look at you." I said.

Eric looked at the man who was still holding the gun, spat, and then went to the rig.

"There will be none of that. Business is being done." I said. Then I turned back and went back to the rig.

Wolf and Stowe were looking at Eric, applying disinfectant, which I could see stung.

Stowe whispered to me. "Deeds plans to kill everyone."

"Why do you care? Is there something you need to tell me? Like why this shitting job is so damn important?" I said, lowly.

But Stowe just glared at me. She wasn't telling. Not yet.

I walked up to the .50 which Deeds was still pointing at the new owners of the bridge.

"We've passed rumors among this lot. When the Greys come, they'll go in the wrong direction." I said, confidentially, as if making a secret with an ally.

"We should just light them up." Said Deeds.

"We do that and the Greys will continue to follow." I said, appealing to reason. "Besides, the survivors will have a reason to rat on us. And you can't kill everyone."

"We can sure as hell try. Look at Eric." Said Deeds, as if he cared about Eric at all.

"Eric knew what he was doing and he's getting paid for his blood." I said. "This way is safer. Better to have the Greys in the wrong area. Besides, I don't want to lose a few men taking on this fuckers. We need to cross the bridge."

"Dead man tell no tails." Said Deeds. This guy really wanted a pound of flesh.

"But if the doctors get waxed in the process, than the mission turns to shit, and it's your ass." I said, now appealing to his own sense of self preservation.

Deeds didn't say anything, and in that silence I knew I had won out.

I called out to the others. "Lets pack and make dust. Reik, on the wheel."

Then I got down and went to where Jake was talking to the newcomer.

Jake looked at me. "Deeds?"

"He won't be a problem. Let's get the fuck out of here." I said. Then to the newcomer. "Why should I take you to the otherside? or more importantly, what can you do for me?"

__
OCC- Ok, we have to pass the toll booth where we have to pay.
 
The new guy was about to say something but I held up a hand. "Look, I can get you across, but you have to be able to shoot, can you fight?"

The new guy nodded. Reik had the rig running and now wasn't the time for introductions.


"Good." Then I turned to the others, "Let's get out of this shit house."

Everyone loaded on and soon we were moving towards the bridge, Reik at the wheel. If things were going to go bad, I wanted to be close to the bridge. Running through the gauntlet of Tarrytown would have been a disaster. Had we made it, we would have had to spend so much time licking our wounds that the Greys would have eventually caught up and killed us.

I said to Reik, "Pull up about 100 yards off the Bridge and stop, but keep the Rig running. If the shit goes down, we're going to ram through."

Reik looked ahead and saw the armored bus the guards used as a gate. "It won't be easy running up against that thing."

"You may have to ram it a few times. We'll try to blast it, but if not, ram the fucker. If the shit blows up."

Reik nodded.

I climbed back into the cab of the Rig and went over to the weapons lockers, removed one of the rocket launchers and two of the grenade launchers. I handed the rocket launcher to Eric. "Know how to use this."

"I think so."

I gave him the quick instruction. Then I gave one of the rocket launchers to Wolf and the other to Jake. I found a box of flechette rounds and gave those to Edden and Rama.

To the others I said, "We made a deal and we should get across if the new bridge guards will honor that deal. But they may think they can fuck us. If they do, things may turn violent fast. I don't trust this assholes. They still haven't learned the business of this bridge and they might not know how to do business with us. So the first plan is to fulfill the deal. But if the deal goes South, we're going to blast our way through."

"We'd should have just blasted our way thought in the first place." Said Deeds.

"Maybe, but I didn't want to risk losing people because those assholes can't do business. Deeds, the Major might be paying but this is still my contract, so we do it my way."

Deeds smirked. But he was on the .50 and that might make him happy.

To the others again. "If the shit goes down, we're blasting through. We need to bring down that bus and will probably have to ram it. Hit hard, and fast. They have better cover than we have, and I counted at least 2 .50 cals that will rip this rig to shit in no time if we let them. Those guns have got to go. If it goes bad, kill as many as you can as quickly as you can. The longer we stay there, the more of us they will kill."

I was serious and they knew it.

"Bring it on." Said Edden, smiling. The girl had a death wish.

"Stowe and Edwards, I want you down and under cover. Everyone else, stay sharp.Cool?"
 
- Stokes -


“I see you’re the man in charge!” – Said the man to Kilrick, after his speech.

He seemed to have regained conscience without anyone notice and it seemed that had been hearing everything said.

“My name’s Stokes and I would like to thank you for your help fixing me up”- He started. “I know I’m a stranger to you and was picked up in a strange and suspicious place, but, and apologizing for eaves-dropping on you folks, I would like to offer my rifle to help you all in case you need it.”

Kilrick seemed to be thinking about it, he didn’t knew this man, but if the shit went down all the help they could get was appreciated…


- Wolf -


I was surprised to see that Stokes bloke regain consciences so quickly… he was in pretty bad shape… all those cuts and wounds, it seemed he had been in close action with some maggots. But then, he was a big guy, young, and seemed to have great endurance… not like I, an old wanker in the wasteland.

Letting Kilrick decide his fate, I turned my attention the rocket launcher in my hands… It’d been a long time, but I still remembered how to do it... I admit I was a wee bit excited with the possibility of working with one again…

I finished my smoke, leaned back, and waited for whatever happened…
 
I nodded. It was not time not to accept help from strangers.

Reik had brought us up to the point where I had told him to park, and I whispered quietly to everyone, "Get ready."

I stood up in the cab and up to where Deeds was manning the .50. I could tell he wanted to shoot, but it was still too soon. "Let's just start now and suprise them." Said Deeds.

"Not if we don't have to."

Cliff came out from his booth propped up ontop of the Tolls. Next to him was the other fellow who told Cliff what to say.

"YOu need to pay the toll." Said Cliff.

I nodded, and turned back to the cart.

"Angie this is where you get off." I said.

Deeds didn't say anthing but Angie was outraged. "What? You're leaving me here?"

"Get out." I said.

"Now wait a minute Kilrick." Started Deeds.

"Shut up Deeds. That's the deal." I said.

Deeds was about to say something when Jasmin said. "Let it go Deeds, it's not like you didn't fuck her already. You weren't planning to marry her where you?"

Deeds gave Jasmin a nasty look, and turned away. But Angie wasn't done yet. "You can't just leave me."

"Get out."

Maddy Stowe, surprising, also spoke. "You know what they will do to her?"

"Life is tough. Would you prefer it was you?" I said. I reached down and took Angie by the arm and dragged her out of the Rig, if only to get away from the others. I might not have liked Angie, but I didn't enjoy doing this either. Yes, I knew what they would do to her.

Angie fought the whole way, but then I pushed her to the arms of a giant raider, who smiled as she fought. "She's fiesty."

"Yes, she's that and more." I said. I was outside of the Rig now, far away from any cover. Feeling exposed. My hands began twitching towards my 20 mm shortbarrel and my six shooter, but I wish I had that plasma rifle.

"Ok, we paid. Now let us through." I called out.

But they paused. As I expected they might.

The man talked to the radio and then looked back towards Tarrytown. Whoever the boss was, the fellow running the show on the bridge wasn't it. Someone was watching us from the town and making the play from a safe distance.

The man said something to Cliff, and Cliff looked at him shocked. "But he paid."

The man whispered something else.

Cliff, looking bewildered looked at me, "The Man says it's not good enough."

"We had a deal." I said, already seeing the storm unfold. I gave a quick sideways glance to Reik, who had kept the motor running. Deeds saw it too. I only hoped the others would be ready.

Of course that didn't stop me from feeling exposed.

Cliff spoke to the raider ontop of the Toll booths. The man said something.

"We need to renegotiate." Said Cliff.

"That's not going to work." I replied. The last word was still clear when I reached for my weapons.
 
From the time the men came back, Stryfe had an ill feeling in his gut. Something bad was coming and it wasn't good. Edden gave Stryfe the same glance.

Rama and Edden both reached for their weapons. "So... who wants to live forever?" The AK-47 flanking Kilrick and Edden's trusty .12ga flanking him on the right.

They'd both would die defending Kilrick.

"What's the word boss?" Edden whispered. She had her toes crossed, and hoped the lining of kevlar beneath her jacket could take it.
 
I didn't hear Edden. Her voice was drowned out in the firing of my 20 mm and then the report of my six-shooter.

I fired the 20 mm, loaded with cannister at Cliff and his new friend. The 20 mm spread like a claymore mine, filling the air with small ballbearings, that shred everything they passed. Cliff and the man on the toolbooth were there one minute, gone the next.

Reik kicked the truck into motion as a whoosh signaled Wolf's rocket laucher. It exploded into the armored schoolbus, tearing throw the thin armor and into the bus's interior.

The bus rocked but it didn't move. The grenade launchers both went off near simultaneously as the Rig began to move on the bus.

I was running towards to toll booth, firing at what I saw.

The Rig roared past me, right towards the mangled bus. I didn't hear the crunch of metal connecting with metal, but I dimly saw the bus picked up under the ram on the nose of the rig. Deeds was blasting away with the .50, whose large bullets was tearing appart the tire build ramparts. It was unclear of the damage, and frankly, I didn't much care. I was out and running.

Reik was starting to back up from the bus to hit the bus again. The bus had been moved but was still blocking the way. Gally reached out an arm to pull me in, and he was only fingers away when a stray bullet caught him in the head. A moment later, Reik jarred the rig away, and Gally's body fell over.

In the toll booths now. I thought I found cover in one of the all booths but when I came in, I came face to face with one of the raiders, coming out with a shotgun. I put my six shooter to his face, and squeezed.

Click.

(Pays to keep count).

I used my arm to knock the barrel of the shotgun awayand then pistol whipped him. The shotgun went off down and I brought up my leg in a turning kit to his mid-section, knocking the air out of him. He fell hard, and I kicked him again twice.

I was reloading when Reik brought the rig into for a second ramming.
 
Edden squeezed down on the trigger and sent the hot slug into one of the rear guards head, splitting the skull like a ripe melon. A second pump and another slug tore into another's chest cavity.

The raider stumbled back, falling on his back and coughing up blood. He tried to reach for his side arm and Edden jumped from the rig and pressed her boot heel on his chest.

"Tell Lucifer I'm comin' soon okay." Edden purred.

The raider was caught off guard by Edden bewildering remark and the last thing he saw was blackness when the slug ripped apart his skull and sprayed Edden with his hot blood.

One raider came charging and Edden caught in her bl;oody fury just whipped the shotgun butt into the man's face and kept pounding away. The sound of beaten flesh becoming softer and softer. Some raiders froze in horror at the pure savagery of the woman.
 
*Bridge*

Pop pop pop, tak tak tak tak, BOOM. Gunfire was everywhere as Eric heard the rocket tear its way into the bus.

The bus was on fire but it wasn't out of the way.

"Damnit, we need another shot at a better angle"

The rig was backing up, readying for another ram when Eric yelled to Reik.

"Look, I'm going to send another rocket into the bus, be ready to break through"

When the gunfire died down a bit, Eric took aim at the obstruction and fired.
 
I had stripped the raider of his shotgun and the bandoleer of ammunition. Then using the toolbooths for cover I used the distraction of the Rig to maximum advantage, moving forward, looking for raiders.

The shotgun made aim easy. Just point and shoot, pump, duck, move shoot. Picking off what raiders I could.

The raiders had been caught by surprised and weren't expecting me in their ranks. That and the suppressive fire was making them scurry and look for cover. But it wouldn't last. Soon they would reorganize and catch the rig in a withering cross-fire. I moved along one line of the barricades, using it to advantage. If I could clear one side, the Rig would get through with fewer casualities.

Behind me the bus was a burning wreck, the smoke of it helping to mask the rig. The bus had been knocked around, but it was still blocking us. Unless they could move it, the raiders would reform and cut the crew apart.
 
Logan soon realised his Scorpio was useless against the entrenched raiders. They were smart enough not to expose their bodies while firing. Shooting at them at medium range with a small SMG was as effective as taking potshots at an enraged brahmin with a BB gun.

He didn't like open battle anyway, covert stealthy close range battle or long range sniperfire suited him best.

He jumped into the rig and holstered the Scorpio. It wasn't the safest place to be with the .50cals still firing but it would protect him from small arms fire. Logan drew his gauss pistol and quickly assembled the barrel, scope and stock.

Shooting the raiders with the newly assembled sniperrifle was much more fun. The raiders could duck, but too late they would realise the 2mm EC rounds would tear through almost anything they ducked behind. Tiny holes were made and only few raiders got back up. It was almost like a turkeyshoot, only these birds shot back...

It was a matter of aiming as quickly as possible, then taking cover again and starting over, hoping not to get hit.

Logan noticed that altough the team did not really work together, they did complement eachother naturally. Instinctively making the right moves. This was very rare indeed for an odd mix of mercs. Maybe Logan had misjudged them, maybe they had been together for a good while. Or it could be nothing more than luck...
 
One of the raiders was moving up on a .50 cal behind the toll. SUch a gun would rip apart the rig. I ducked behind some tires, now out of the toll booths and moving through the barricades, low now I made a move to the sandbagged position, propped up on giant rubber tires and overlooking the toll booths..

Behind me I could hear the grind as Reik moved the rig back and then the roar as the rig rammed the bus again.

At the sound of the crash of metal on metal I lifted up and fired the shotgun and fired almost point blank into the gunner. He dropped like a stone and I moved behind the .50 to rake the other side with machinegun fire.
 
-Stokes-

Stokes was trying to shoot the raiders, but with his hands all patched up made it very difficult to pull the trigger while aiming, so all he could do was to look around, trying hard to not get killed by any stray bullets, which were flying everywhere, he could hear them buzz through his ears.

A loud crash! Reik bumped once again against the bus, pushing it out of the way almost completely. Reik continued to accelerate while the bus was moving sideways, opening the gap through which the rig could pass, until in was all done. The pass was clear. Time to move out!

The others outside started to make their way towards the rig, killing as many raiders as they could in the process. Stokes was looking almost hypnotized at Edden as she ravaged trough enemy fire when suddenly a raider tried to get in the rig with a SMG ready to burst.

Acting on instinct Stokes smashed the back of his rifle against his nose, gushing out blood against him, then with a sudden movement with his big muscular arms, he broke his neck.



-Wolf-

The bloke was strong! Even with all those wounds he broke the other fuckers’ neck like a bloody tooth-pick!
But I couldn’t get distracted; I continued shooting my trusty 44º providing back-up fire to the team, I could see them heading towards the rig, since the path was clear and ready to move and get the hell out of this shit-hole.
But still, it felt great to fire that rocket straight to the bleddin’ bus.
 
Edden couldn't hear the world around her, all she could hear was the pounding of the hearts of the enemy and the roar that sounded like an ocean.

A small raider, a mere dirt faced boy grabbed his knife, a curved dagger and made a charge at Edden.

With the first swing, the blade in reverse grip, it zipped past, Edden dodged it and a second, this one catch her on the breast bone and being stopped by her firm grip. The boy was trying to use his other hand to force the blade. His face was young. Soft, tender. He might have only been ten or thirteen at most.

Edden stood impassive, her right hand holding the blade back where the red line had been made.

She reached for one of the throwing blades in her waist sheath, slowly, deliberately removing it, the blade barely scracthing the leather scabbard.

The boy was still trying to apply pressure, and Edden kept him back. Her blade now was unsheathed and in a blur she thrusted the blade right between the third and fourth rib, piercing through vest, and leather like butter with the hardened edge and entered the soft tissue, breaking through his right lung, deflatting it like a ballon.

The young raider's eyes glazed, and the air he breathed was being drowned out by the blood flowing into the air sacs, cutting off his air intake.

Edden embraved the boy and she held him to her breast like a caring mother and she even rocked him to the ground, holding his head and whispering a tune in his ear.

The boy shuttered and held on, fearing to die. And Edden understood. A long time ago, before she sold her soul, she knew that feeling as well.

"Hush child... Momma will rock you to sleep. Shhhssss."
 
That was it. The Rig was through. Reik had gotten through finally.

"Everyone get in the Rig. Edden, go."

Deeds was now pumping fire into the opposite side of the road, following the same line as I had.

But now I was drawing fire too. Thunk thunk thunk. Shots hitting the combat armor that Rama had modifed. So far it had held up, but for how long.

The barrel of the .50 was going white in the heat. It wouldn't last much longer.

A grenade fell into the pit. Too late, I rolled away, out, and felt the explosion behind me. Felt the sharpnel hit the armor and the concussion knocking me out and over, landing hard on the bridge.

A lousy time to get wounded.

__________

In the Rig Jasmin was firing out the rear as Deeds continued to fire ahead.

"Move, we got more raiders coming in from the town." She called out.

Then she felt a powerful hit and went down hard, as if something powerful had knocked her over. When she came too she looked at the damage.

"Fuck." She said.

Between the components of her power armor, where the breast plate met that part that protected the abdoment, stood a rocket propelled grenade.

Nearby, Maddy Stowe had gotten to Gally's body but he was already dead. She looked around, trying to do something. Edwards had remained in the shelter of the Rig, and that was probably the wiser choice.

Jake saw her and pushed her down, back towards Edwards. "Get down damn it. You're cargo!" Then he got a hit, spun and fell.

His eyes were still open, still conscious.

"Shit Jake." Called out Aragorn. Turning to return fire. And then he too took a hit in the shoulder, and fell to his knee. Yet he continued to fire.
 
"Where is the boss?" Logan said as he was looking around inside the rig. No one answered...

He quickly disassembled his rifle again and unholstered his scorpio. Scorpio in the left hand, gauss pistol in the right, he jumped out of the rig and yelled "Stall, i'm going to find the boss."

Logan had no engagement with this so called boss, but without without a strong leader, the group he just joined would be in a world of hurt. Kilrick seemed to know what he was doing on the bridge, a man of strength but also of finesse.

Logan made a low profile run for cover and started his search where he had last seen Kilrick. Evading battle where he could, forcing raiders to take cover with sprays from his scorpio and finishing them off where he could with his gauss pistol.

Eventually he found Kilrick lying face down. A track of blood revealed that he had been trying to crawl back to the others, but it was a futile attempt. Grenade shrapnel had hit him in the back, all things taken into account he was pretty lucky to be still alive. The wounds had lead to a lot of bloodloss, but Logan's first impression was that no important internal organs had been hit.

He holstered the gauss pistol, lifted Kilrick onto his back and mumbled something about the motherfucker being damn heavy.

They slowly headed back to the rig, hoping not to get surprised by raiders.
 
Rama surprised a three raiders behind a turned over dumpster.

TTATTATATTATATTT!!!!

The AK-47 sent a hail of 7.62mm FMJ splattered them like ripe fruit against the concrete wall. They lay, crumpled and bloody, one man's face was removed, the other two looked like paper dolls that some hell cat unleashed its claws upon.

The sound of the rig roaring was heard and Rama made his move back to his comrades. Firing and running as he ran towards his team mates. He felt the hard slap of low caliber rounds hits his armor. The pain raced through his upper torso and his chest, but he ignored it and ran on. The metalic kiss of blood touched his lips.

Logan was carrying Kilrick, and Rama gave a hand. Lifting their leader off the battlefied and raced towards the Rig. Edden and Eric were giving suppressive fire.

The hornets nest was stirred and they were trying to his the group with everything they had got.

They got aboard the rig, taking cover. Bullets swerved by, seeming to come from all directions.

"Let's get the fuck out of here." Rama said as he swung the butt of his gun at a charging raider who manged to get past Edden's sweep.

CRACK! The man's nose caved in and he fell to the dusty earth, twitching and screaming.
 
As Reik was building up speed, the vehicle mounted .50 cal stopped firing. Eric was handing waterbottles to Deeds, to poor over the .50 cal. As soon as the water hit the barrel it turned into steam. Deeds resumed fire as soon as the barrel regained his original black color. The group might regret to have wasted water on it, but at least they would alive to regret it...

Rama gave some suppressive fire and turned towards Logan as he reloaded. He had planned to say something, but was silenced by the sight of Logan's bloodshot eyes. Rama had only seen this before when people had been splashed by corrosive chemicals, but nothing was to be seen in that nature. On closer inspection, it were the bloodvessels in the eyes, that were bursting rather than blood flowing over the eyes. Rama also noticed Logan was shaking for some reason. All his extremities were going wild. His face betrayed pain, but no physical damage was to be seen.

The people seated in the rig did not really know what to do. Logan grabbed a heavily modded battery out of his pack and said "I'll be out for a while, maybe let the doc take a look at me if it goes wrong, but don't worry, i'll be back".
To the surprise of the group Logan shocked himself with the battery and got knocked out cold.

Wolf checked Logan's heartbeat, and sure enough, his heart was still beating.

The group didn't have much time to think of this weird incident as they were still under heavy fire. Wolf decided to drag Logan's body over to Maddy.
 
Maddy looked over Logan, but by now the back of the rig was chaotic. There were too many wounded, too much blood.

Reik had the rig going full out and soon they were out of range. Rama, looking behind, could see raiders coming out from the city towards the bridge, and those that had survived coming out, somewhat dazed, staring after the escaping rig.

"That was close." Said Rama.

"Fucking A." Said Deeds.

"So what now?" Asked Edden.

Kilrick was unconscious. Jake was in and out of consciousness. Aaron was also down and they had lost Gally. Not only had they been badly hurt, but they were currently leaderless.

Maddy had figured whatever was wrong with Logan, she couldn't do much for him, and at least she could see the men who were wounded. Wolf was doing what he could to help the wounded and Stoke was offering some help.

"We got to stop this rig from moving. All this bouncing around is bad for their wounds." She said.

Wolf nodded. "We need to stop to do a proper patch up somewhere."

Deeds was still on the .50. His armor had more dents than it had before, but he had come out unscathed. But he was also looking back at the burning bus and the plume of smoke that was climbing into the sky. "Not to close. They may come after us."

Edwards was tinkering with the rocket lodged into Jasmin's armor.

"Whatever you do, better do it quick. This rocket is still live. If she goes off, it could be 'hasta la vista muchachas' for all of us." Said Edwards.

Edwards had been able to dissemble part of the still hot rocket, but something was burning there. But for the armor, the rocket would have gone through her.

"Fucking Christ Deeds. Pull over somewhere and get this fucking rocket out of me." Said Jasmin.

_________
East of Tappen Zee.

One man, a large man with dark hair, had spoken to the passing convoy. It was the same convoy that had taken Logan up to town.
"There's all sort of hell up there and the town's changed hands. So I don't advise you go up there. But yep, that's where you'll find Logan."

The man smiled and said in an almost emotionless voice. "That's great. I am sure he will be glad that his girlfriend is safe."

"Well, I'm sure he'll be happy to hear it." Said the caravan driving who nodded and whipped his brahma back into motion.

The dark haired man walked to his compatriots.

"Further interrogation might have provided more useful intelligence." Said the one with curly hair.

"There was insufficient time. We need to obtain the target which is now within our reach."

The third man, a bald man, said "Our intelligence indicates that the bridge is being held by a group of raiders."

"They will pose no serious problem." said the dark haired man.

The others nodded and took up positions behind and flanking him. Two hours later they were overlooking the Tappen Zee Bridge.
 
Since getting over the Tappen Zee, they crossed through a ruined and abandoned small city. Once perhaps this would have been a popular destination for scavs, but now the only hint at occupation was a whiff of deathclaw dung.

They kept going, Jasmin trying to stay still and Edwards trying to stop any motion. Both were worried, a sudden jarring of the vehicle could set off the rocket lodged in her armor. But neither the veteran grunt, nor the technical specialist could remove the armor.

When they got through the town they kept driving until they came to a large empty parking area. There Reik pulled over and Deeds, Wolf and Edden got out to inspect damage and to set something of a camp.

"We'll stay here and let our wounded get patched. But we got to move fast. This is just temporary, we're too damn close to the bridge." Said Deeds, who was speaking as if he was now in charge.

And perhaps he was.

As those that could stand set camp and inspected the damage of the rig, Wolf and Stowe, with Stokes help, went to work on the wounded. No one spoke about Gally.

Wolf, a seasoned medic, found that Stowe was more adroit than he would have imagined. Her skill with bandages and knowledge of human anatomy could only come from years of training. As they worked on Aaron, he whispered, "I didn't know you were this good a medic."

Stowe ignored the remark and kept on working, her hands now covered and bloody, but working quickly and with skill. "Hold this here," She said, indicating a clamp.

"How come you didn't say anything about your medical skills earlier. It might have helped." Wolf said, not letting go the point.

Stowe rubbed the sweat off her forehead with her forearm. "It wasn't necessary that you know." She said, her eyes still focused on what she was doing. "Sorry, but it wasn't my idea."

"Then who's" Asked Stokes, who had been helping out.

"That's the thing about secrets, you know. If you start telling people, the secret isn't a secret anymore." Said Stowe. "Or did you forget that this this something of a secret operation."

"Secret? No I just came on this little joy ride. But a secret from who." Asked Stokes.

"Secret from anyone who doesn't mind his own fucking business." Said Deeds, butting in. "I'll remind you, Stowe, that this mission still has the greatest level of confidentiality."

"If he's dead," said Stowe, nodding towards Kilrick, "then you can kiss off the mission. After all he's the one we need to get in."

"You're going to New York?" Asked Stokes.

"Who wants to know?" Asked Deeds.

"Hey, you guys picked me up in Maggotville, remember." Said Stokes.

"Did Kilrick hire you on?" Asked Stowe.

"I was there on the bridge like everyone else." Replied Stowe.

"Yeah, he was there. He did his part." Said Wolf, standing up for Stokes.

Eric nodded as well. "Yeah I saw him too."

"But until you get hired by him, you're just on for the ride." Said Deeds. "Now how is Kilrick."

"I pulled sharpnel out of his side, a few punctured him, but I think we got all the pieces. Did some stitching and a couple of stims. He should be alright." Said Stowe.

Deeds nodded and said nothing, let the medics get back to work. But then he went over to Kilrick who was in a disturbed sleep.

"Kilrick?" Said Deeds.

Kilrick kept sleeping.

So Deeds shook him awake, or at least until Kilrick could barely open his eyes. When he did he focused on Deeds.

Deeds was smiling. Not a good sign.

"Kilrick. Bad news. Dr. Stowe says you're not going to make it. I'm sorry bud. But hey, you know, we still got to do this job. So what do you say you tell me how you were going to get in."

Kilrick managed a feeble smile but said nothing.

"Don't be like that Kilrick. Come on. This can be pleasant or it can be painful." Said Deeds.

Kilrick opened his mouth to speak, but he was too tired to speak loudly, so Deeds bent over to hear what he had to say.

All Kilrick said was, "If you torture me, you'll never find out how to get in."

Deeds jerked up, surprised. He was about to protest, when Kilrick's eyes glazed over and he nodded back into unconsciousness.

Jake was in better shape and awake, and he started to laugh.

"What are you laughing about, asshole. I can get it out of you too." Said Deeds.

"You could if I knew. But Kilrick doesn't tell anyone, and if you try your tricks on me, grunt, you'll come out the worst for it in the end." Said Jake.

Deeds shook his head. But Jake was right. Even if Deeds tortured Jake for the information, Kilrick wouldn't speak. Kilrick wouldn't speak because he was too smart. He knew it wouldn't make a difference and he'd end up just as dead.

Deeds looked over to where Edwards was working on Jasmin. Jasmin seemed part irritated and part frightened. But she was quiet while Edwards looked for a way to either defuse the rocket or remove the armor.

"Doctor, how's the rocket?" Said Deeds.

"Not sure but I think I can get it out." Said Edwards, in his normally nervous voice.

"You got an hour. If you don't have it by then, we leave her behind." Said Deeds.

Jasmin was about to speak, but Deeds shut her up. "Sorry Jaz, but we can't have you jeopardize the operation, can we?"

"Fuck you Deeds."

"You'd do the same in my situation." Said Deeds.

Deeds looked at the other newcomer who was still out. "Dr. Stowe, what about him?"

"Not sure. It's like he just shut down. First the shakes,a then the full collapse. He's alive though. Just down."

"Did you learn anything interesting?"

"Only that he likes to give himself electric shocks."

"Kinky."

"Yeah, well, it might be for his heart. Sometimes an electric shock can get the heart working again."

"So he's got a bad ticker?" Asked Deeds, leering down on the newcomer.

"That or it's something else. I drew some blood from him and am running an experiement. Won't know for sure until I do a bit of toxicology on his blood." Said Stowe. "Should know in about an hour."

"Alright then."

_________________

Further away in the town, the black haired man was speaking to Alma.

"Have you seen this man? I am his friend and looking for him." Said the man.

"You speak funny." Said Alma.

"Yes, I do."

"How come?" Asked the little girl.

"Because I feel no emotions." Said the man.

"YOu mean you don't cry?" Asked Alma.

"That's correct. I just do what my principal commands."

"I wish I wouldn't cry no more." Said Alma wistfully.

"Perhaps. But you would not laugh either."

"I don't laugh very much."

"Have you seen this man."

"Yes, he was in the big truck."

"A truck?" Said the man. Ama nodded. The man nodded too. It was better to speak slowly and in a non-threatening tone. Threatening a child might make the child reticent to speak, and the man wanted information. "Did they cross the bridge?"

"Yes, but there was a gunfight, and a lot of people got shot." Said the girl, now a bit excited.

"Really. How interesting. Did you see this."

"Yes, from a building. ANd there was a lot of noise too." Said the girl.

The bald headed man spoke walking towards where the black haired man stood. "He might have been wounded or killed in the fight."

The curly haired man also approached. "It is necessary that we ascertain if our target has been killed. Demonicus would be displeased."

The black haired man nodded. "Correct." Then to Alma. "Alma you should go now. Things may become violent again."

Alma skirted off into a ruined building and disappeared.
 
Meanwhile Stryfe was busy dressing his arm. He removed the tiny bits of shrapnel with the ease of a surgeon. Once you did it enough times, you kind of ignored the pain. Or you simply bit down on some brahmin sinew. Either way, it worked.

As Rama headed back to the group, he could see Deeds lurking about. Probably trying to play triage. Stryfe didn't like him, and just on prinicple, Rama would have slit his throat.

Rama passed and hailed Eric who was sitting back.

Edden was busy as usually keeping herself busy by doing a marathon of push ups.

Deeds was leering over some of the wounded when Rama came near Kilrick.

"Boss," Rama gave a nudge. "You look like shit."

Kilrick weakly opened his eyes and focused on Rama. He wasn't sure if the man was being geniune or just being professional. One thing you could never guage from the man was what he was feeling. Kilrick supposed Stryfe did what he had to do to get by. Probably it was his way of hiding fear? From what he gathered, Stryfe was last of the Rangers, and that alone carried some heavy baggage.

"I'll live... as long as that bastard Deeds doesn't play war doctor." He rasped.

Rama looked at him. "You'll live. I'll see what I can do for you and the men."
 
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