Carib FMJ
Nuka-Cola Chaser
Rama just nodded and spat on the dusty ground. "I can help you with that."
ICC- Kilrick Salvage Chapter 2- On the Road to NYC
- Thread starter welsh
- Start date
- Status
welsh
Junkmaster
"Good, if we can drop the conduit passage than we don't have to worry about the little bastards getting in under us." I said.
Gally, who had been tossing a few back, belched loudly, enough for us all to stop. When we looked at him, he seemed embarrassed, searching for something to say. "Well, from what I saw, pretty clear fields of fire. Radius of about 300 yards around that wind turbine gadget thingie."
Jasmin spoke. 'I agree. I as looking at it the other day. What will depend is the weather and the sunlight. If there's a lot of sun, the maggots should leave us alone, though we will need to cross through town to get there."
"But not back. We keep going for Gluttonville, so once through the town we are cleared of it."
I added.
"Yes, but if the fire is still burning, or if it's a dark day, then the little bastards might feel braver." Said Deeds.
Clara spoke again. "And there's brush all around it too. We have no idea how extensive the sewer system is beneath Maggotville. There's an acquifer system as well. There could be access points close to the power station that we don't know about."
"Not to mention a spring. The turbine is up on the hill, so there could be natural springs up there or a water pump." Said Jake. "Perhaps we didn't see it yet."
"Agreed. But right now we should think about what we know about and worry about what we don't know about later. Jake we have charges?"
"C-4, and different types of fuses and blast caps. But only a few of the electrical detonators and I think we'd best save for New York." Said Jake.
"Can you use those?" I asked.
Gally, who had been tossing a few back, belched loudly, enough for us all to stop. When we looked at him, he seemed embarrassed, searching for something to say. "Well, from what I saw, pretty clear fields of fire. Radius of about 300 yards around that wind turbine gadget thingie."
Jasmin spoke. 'I agree. I as looking at it the other day. What will depend is the weather and the sunlight. If there's a lot of sun, the maggots should leave us alone, though we will need to cross through town to get there."
"But not back. We keep going for Gluttonville, so once through the town we are cleared of it."
I added.
"Yes, but if the fire is still burning, or if it's a dark day, then the little bastards might feel braver." Said Deeds.
Clara spoke again. "And there's brush all around it too. We have no idea how extensive the sewer system is beneath Maggotville. There's an acquifer system as well. There could be access points close to the power station that we don't know about."
"Not to mention a spring. The turbine is up on the hill, so there could be natural springs up there or a water pump." Said Jake. "Perhaps we didn't see it yet."
"Agreed. But right now we should think about what we know about and worry about what we don't know about later. Jake we have charges?"
"C-4, and different types of fuses and blast caps. But only a few of the electrical detonators and I think we'd best save for New York." Said Jake.
"Can you use those?" I asked.
“No problem.” I answered. “But I have my own charges if you need to save those, regular C-4 and detonators in my bag”.
I looked at Rama. “Thank you, your rifle is welcomed, I hope its enough. I’m not a very good shot at long range.”
“So”. I looked at Kilrick. “If that’s it, when do we leave? I’m fed up of those bloody maggots.”
I looked at Rama. “Thank you, your rifle is welcomed, I hope its enough. I’m not a very good shot at long range.”
“So”. I looked at Kilrick. “If that’s it, when do we leave? I’m fed up of those bloody maggots.”
welsh
Junkmaster
That said the group began to split up. Those who would work on bringing down the turbine or dismantlying the generator began to plan their project.
Another group thought about the conduit tunnel leading back to town while others planned to cover the salvage project. I moved from group to group, listening to what they said, offering my thoughts and considering their propositions.
It was important to step back and let them work their gameplan out. They had to become a group, to work together adn trust each other. They had to become tight.
As it got late the groups began to break off to drink or talk. Work created ties and now they needed to know each other to fill the spaces between their lives, to bond as a group. But it was getting late and I said it was time to crash.
We could still hear the Dire outside fighting over the body, their snarls and growls loud despite the crackle of burning wound near our campsite. I closed my eyes, and drifted to sleep.
I don't know how long I slept, but a horrorified woman's scream woke me. I got up with a start, the others doing likewise.
Up in one of the guard towers Clara was pointing down, pointing to where the other woman had been buried.
"Bobby! No!!! Bobby!!!" She cried out.
Ollie was already at the gate, a sawed off double barrel in his hands. "AIn't no one going out there tonight. Ain't not one of you faster than them Dire in the dark."
He was right. The Dire would tear us apart if we wandered out of the gates in the dark.
Up in a tower Eric had joined Clara. He looked down at me and shook his head. "It's the young boy. Looks like the damn wolf-things got him."
Outside the wolves-things were fighting each other over the boy's body.
Another group thought about the conduit tunnel leading back to town while others planned to cover the salvage project. I moved from group to group, listening to what they said, offering my thoughts and considering their propositions.
It was important to step back and let them work their gameplan out. They had to become a group, to work together adn trust each other. They had to become tight.
As it got late the groups began to break off to drink or talk. Work created ties and now they needed to know each other to fill the spaces between their lives, to bond as a group. But it was getting late and I said it was time to crash.
We could still hear the Dire outside fighting over the body, their snarls and growls loud despite the crackle of burning wound near our campsite. I closed my eyes, and drifted to sleep.
I don't know how long I slept, but a horrorified woman's scream woke me. I got up with a start, the others doing likewise.
Up in one of the guard towers Clara was pointing down, pointing to where the other woman had been buried.
"Bobby! No!!! Bobby!!!" She cried out.
Ollie was already at the gate, a sawed off double barrel in his hands. "AIn't no one going out there tonight. Ain't not one of you faster than them Dire in the dark."
He was right. The Dire would tear us apart if we wandered out of the gates in the dark.
Up in a tower Eric had joined Clara. He looked down at me and shook his head. "It's the young boy. Looks like the damn wolf-things got him."
Outside the wolves-things were fighting each other over the boy's body.
Carib FMJ
Nuka-Cola Chaser
Rama took a glance outside. His AK-74 was in hand and he leveled it, getting one of the larger dires in his sights. He followed its large hairy, shaggy frame as it snarled and tore dead flesh between its massive maw. Then...
PIFFF
The dire howled and hit the dirt. The scent of blood drove the other dires crazy and they immediately began to feast on their own comrade.
The woman gave Stryfe a bewildered look, he merely looked forward and tapped the rifle against his shoulder blade.
Edden gave a nod of approval as she sipped some of the local brew. Not really caring it tasted sort of stale.
PIFFF
The dire howled and hit the dirt. The scent of blood drove the other dires crazy and they immediately began to feast on their own comrade.
The woman gave Stryfe a bewildered look, he merely looked forward and tapped the rifle against his shoulder blade.
Edden gave a nod of approval as she sipped some of the local brew. Not really caring it tasted sort of stale.
welsh
Junkmaster
The Dire's provided target practice, and soon the others were shooting. Three of the big wolve-things fell bleeding before the other's got the point to leave the fort alone, for now.
Ollie was watching through a small peephole in the door. "It'll keep 'em gone. But if you step out there, they'll pounch. I seen it happen before. And if they get past ya, they comin for the door, and I got women and children here, so don't be asking me to open it."
The sky was already getting light. It would be dawn soon.
Wolf was up in another tower. "Look at this." He called over.
There was a rope tied to the tower and down to the ground outside the walls.
Jasmin had come out of her tent without puttin on armor. "Looks like he went over to bury the woman."
"Stupid move." Said Deeds, stepping out and fastening his armor. Behind him I could see the other woman, Angie, barely clothed and following Deeds. "Those Dire probably waited for him to go out then finished him up. Just waiting for the meal to come down."
Clara didn't seem convinced. "Bobby was young and he loved her, I know. But he wasn't that stupid. He'd a known the risks. My man told him that much."
"Bobby put his hands over my eyes when I was driving. So he might suprise you." Said Jake.
"Ain't nothin you can do for 'em now." Said Ollie, his hand tight around the shotgun. "You ain't open this door for no corpse least you want more corpses in here."
"No." I said. "We'll wait for light then bury what's left. In the meantime, we're all up and dawn is comin. Soon as we can I want us on the road. Let's break camp and have chow."
Ollie was watching through a small peephole in the door. "It'll keep 'em gone. But if you step out there, they'll pounch. I seen it happen before. And if they get past ya, they comin for the door, and I got women and children here, so don't be asking me to open it."
The sky was already getting light. It would be dawn soon.
Wolf was up in another tower. "Look at this." He called over.
There was a rope tied to the tower and down to the ground outside the walls.
Jasmin had come out of her tent without puttin on armor. "Looks like he went over to bury the woman."
"Stupid move." Said Deeds, stepping out and fastening his armor. Behind him I could see the other woman, Angie, barely clothed and following Deeds. "Those Dire probably waited for him to go out then finished him up. Just waiting for the meal to come down."
Clara didn't seem convinced. "Bobby was young and he loved her, I know. But he wasn't that stupid. He'd a known the risks. My man told him that much."
"Bobby put his hands over my eyes when I was driving. So he might suprise you." Said Jake.
"Ain't nothin you can do for 'em now." Said Ollie, his hand tight around the shotgun. "You ain't open this door for no corpse least you want more corpses in here."
"No." I said. "We'll wait for light then bury what's left. In the meantime, we're all up and dawn is comin. Soon as we can I want us on the road. Let's break camp and have chow."
welsh
Junkmaster
THe camp was packed and ready to go when dawn came. Rama had stayed up in a tower, taking shots at the Dire that came to collect the bodies of the dead. With each shot the Dire gave us more distance until they disappeared into the woods.
As soon as the sun touched the Eastern horizon, Ollie opened the big gate and the rig roared through, Jake at the wheel and Reik besides him. Aaron was still feeling pained and needed help. Deeds helped Angie into the bed of the truck.
"What is she doin here?" Asked Edden in usual abrupt way.
"She's with me." Said Deeds, and from the look it seemed as if he would broach no argument.
"She's not part of the charter." I said.
"She is now. She's with me and I am. Kilrick this is not your concern."
"Everything on this job is my concern."
"Then my concern is to make sure the job is done. She'll work as an assistant with the science types allowing me a freer hand in security. She will allow that to happen so she's comin." Said Deeds, climbing up.
A pissing contest. I looked at Jasmin but was pretty sure she would back up Deeds, even if she didn't like it, even if she knew the girl was just a sexual play thing for Deeds. Grunts would stick together. That's what happens when you share a foxhole with a guy who you expect will watch your ass.
I also knew I would kill Deeds before the job was over. But this wasn't the time for it.
We pulled it up to where the older woman had been dug up and where the body of the child had been dragged. Nearby were the bodies of the Dire that Rama had slain. They were big animals, nearly the size of a Brahma, but creatures of muscle, tooth and claw.
Dire go for through the throat. It is said that when a Dire attackes it will lock it's jaws on any part of the body it can and use its claws to slash at the person, causing more wounds, more bleeding. When they attack, one Dire is normally strong enough to hold down the body of the prey, while the others feast on the internal organs.
In areas in which the Dire prey, people don't go out at night, and sometimes the Dire claw into houses of weaker design to find their victims.
"Let's be quick and bury them. Together." I said.
It was an old habit. Yes, the Dire would come back in the night and dig them up again. As a salvager I know that even the critters need to scavenge to survive and I had left plenty of bodies on wastelands for that purpose. So why bother?
Because you don't leave the dead for rats.
Those you care for deserve more than being food for vermin.
The sun was coming up fast but long shadows allowed the night to linger. The Dire wouldn't bother us now. It was too late. Even so, I told Gally, on the .50, to watch and we set up a quick perimeter.
Wolf was looking at the body of the child, Clara next to him weeping for her lost boy. There wasn't much left of the other woman to bury, but we tried to bring the corpse together.
As soon as the sun touched the Eastern horizon, Ollie opened the big gate and the rig roared through, Jake at the wheel and Reik besides him. Aaron was still feeling pained and needed help. Deeds helped Angie into the bed of the truck.
"What is she doin here?" Asked Edden in usual abrupt way.
"She's with me." Said Deeds, and from the look it seemed as if he would broach no argument.
"She's not part of the charter." I said.
"She is now. She's with me and I am. Kilrick this is not your concern."
"Everything on this job is my concern."
"Then my concern is to make sure the job is done. She'll work as an assistant with the science types allowing me a freer hand in security. She will allow that to happen so she's comin." Said Deeds, climbing up.
A pissing contest. I looked at Jasmin but was pretty sure she would back up Deeds, even if she didn't like it, even if she knew the girl was just a sexual play thing for Deeds. Grunts would stick together. That's what happens when you share a foxhole with a guy who you expect will watch your ass.
I also knew I would kill Deeds before the job was over. But this wasn't the time for it.
We pulled it up to where the older woman had been dug up and where the body of the child had been dragged. Nearby were the bodies of the Dire that Rama had slain. They were big animals, nearly the size of a Brahma, but creatures of muscle, tooth and claw.
Dire go for through the throat. It is said that when a Dire attackes it will lock it's jaws on any part of the body it can and use its claws to slash at the person, causing more wounds, more bleeding. When they attack, one Dire is normally strong enough to hold down the body of the prey, while the others feast on the internal organs.
In areas in which the Dire prey, people don't go out at night, and sometimes the Dire claw into houses of weaker design to find their victims.
"Let's be quick and bury them. Together." I said.
It was an old habit. Yes, the Dire would come back in the night and dig them up again. As a salvager I know that even the critters need to scavenge to survive and I had left plenty of bodies on wastelands for that purpose. So why bother?
Because you don't leave the dead for rats.
Those you care for deserve more than being food for vermin.
The sun was coming up fast but long shadows allowed the night to linger. The Dire wouldn't bother us now. It was too late. Even so, I told Gally, on the .50, to watch and we set up a quick perimeter.
Wolf was looking at the body of the child, Clara next to him weeping for her lost boy. There wasn't much left of the other woman to bury, but we tried to bring the corpse together.
Carib FMJ
Nuka-Cola Chaser
"Well," Rama began as he looked at the weeping mother, and held a burning match on his hand, the flame running down to his finger tips, the flame kissing flesh for a few seconds. It hurt like hell, but that was the trick, if you didn't mind that it hurt it didn't matter. "At least you don't have to worry about Jake getting him." It was a cold thing to say, but Rama didn't like her or the child, and bringing them along only seem to deepen his resentment for them.
The match was cast into the dirt.
Then Rama looked at Deeds and his little plaything, Angie. He could tell Kilrick didn't like this, but as always there were higher masters to praise, and for now, Deeds was the higher master. Of course, when they reached New York, it wouldn't be about higher masters, it would be about who could survive the longest.
Looking between Deeds and Kilrick; Rama wasn't a betting man, he believed in surer things, for example, a .12ga to the head was absolute the say a card game. No, Rama wasn't a man who put his faith in gambling or dice, but he did have his money riding on Kilrick.
"Edden," Rama rasped.
"What?" Was her annoyed reply.
"2K says, Kilrick will slice Deeds before the end of the New York tour."
She puffed on her makeshift cigarette and nodded. Her right hand, locking with Rama's. "Didn't know you were a betting man."
Rama didn't answer, he just kept himself ready.
The match was cast into the dirt.
Then Rama looked at Deeds and his little plaything, Angie. He could tell Kilrick didn't like this, but as always there were higher masters to praise, and for now, Deeds was the higher master. Of course, when they reached New York, it wouldn't be about higher masters, it would be about who could survive the longest.
Looking between Deeds and Kilrick; Rama wasn't a betting man, he believed in surer things, for example, a .12ga to the head was absolute the say a card game. No, Rama wasn't a man who put his faith in gambling or dice, but he did have his money riding on Kilrick.
"Edden," Rama rasped.
"What?" Was her annoyed reply.
"2K says, Kilrick will slice Deeds before the end of the New York tour."
She puffed on her makeshift cigarette and nodded. Her right hand, locking with Rama's. "Didn't know you were a betting man."
Rama didn't answer, he just kept himself ready.
Looking at the boy made me ill.
It wasn’t the fact that his whole body had been turn apart by the Dires’ claws and fangs.
Instead it was the fact that, in these times, on the Wasteland, life means bugger-all.
A little boy, a bloody pest, but still, a little boy died with such stupid death: in the claws of some desert beast.
His mother was standing next to me, trying to make his body a little more decent to bury, and holding back her tears, swallowing her grief.
It was the way of the Wasteland: bury the dead and move on.
It was with these thoughts in my mind that I noticed something strange with the dead body:
His head, in the back of the cranium, had a massive injury that didn’t match any of the Dire’s wounds. And it seemed like it was made by some blunt instrument… perhaps even…a crowbar?
Oh bloody hell! Fuck this!
But I could be wrong, probably I was just being paranoid… but still, the signs were there. Bugger, maybe it was done with the animals dragging the body around…
Bollocks…
I had to tell someone, even if I could be wrong.
The mother couldn’t know about it, she would go crazy…
And how about the others? Who could tell what their reaction would be?
The best person to know about it was Kilrick…
It wasn’t the fact that his whole body had been turn apart by the Dires’ claws and fangs.
Instead it was the fact that, in these times, on the Wasteland, life means bugger-all.
A little boy, a bloody pest, but still, a little boy died with such stupid death: in the claws of some desert beast.
His mother was standing next to me, trying to make his body a little more decent to bury, and holding back her tears, swallowing her grief.
It was the way of the Wasteland: bury the dead and move on.
It was with these thoughts in my mind that I noticed something strange with the dead body:
His head, in the back of the cranium, had a massive injury that didn’t match any of the Dire’s wounds. And it seemed like it was made by some blunt instrument… perhaps even…a crowbar?
Oh bloody hell! Fuck this!
But I could be wrong, probably I was just being paranoid… but still, the signs were there. Bugger, maybe it was done with the animals dragging the body around…
Bollocks…
I had to tell someone, even if I could be wrong.
The mother couldn’t know about it, she would go crazy…
And how about the others? Who could tell what their reaction would be?
The best person to know about it was Kilrick…
“Kilrick, we need to talk.” I said near him, almost whispering.
“What’s the matter?” He replied.
“The dead boy… well...there’s a possibility he could’ve been murdered. I’ve found a large wound on the back of his head that seemed to have been done with some kind of blunt instrument… like a crowbar.”
“Are you certain of this?” He asked.
“There’s no way to be certain. Not in the bleedin' mess he is after the Dire, and the wound could’ve been made by the bloody animals dragging him around the floor. But still…”
He looked at me.
“Oh and Kilrick… It gets worse. Yesterday I caught the girl the little boy said was responsible for the death of his grandmother, and that he would kill, spying on everybody… and holding what seemed to be the crowbar I had since Maggotville.”
“What’s the matter?” He replied.
“The dead boy… well...there’s a possibility he could’ve been murdered. I’ve found a large wound on the back of his head that seemed to have been done with some kind of blunt instrument… like a crowbar.”
“Are you certain of this?” He asked.
“There’s no way to be certain. Not in the bleedin' mess he is after the Dire, and the wound could’ve been made by the bloody animals dragging him around the floor. But still…”
He looked at me.
“Oh and Kilrick… It gets worse. Yesterday I caught the girl the little boy said was responsible for the death of his grandmother, and that he would kill, spying on everybody… and holding what seemed to be the crowbar I had since Maggotville.”
After the bodies were deposited to be dug up again in the night, we were all ready to get going.
"All aboard!" Yelled Jake. After a few minutes they were all in the big rig. The beast roared as Jake flipped the switch. There used to be keys to use vehicles, but in the wastes, owning something did not mean anything.
Jake looked back. Deeds. He had heard Rama and Eden bet on Killrick caping deeds before we got to New York. Funny, Jake had never liked Deeds, and showed no pity for him. But Jake needed to be sure, so he waved Reik away and motioned for Killrick to come.
"So when are you going to cap Deeds?" Jake asked. Straight, and to the point.
"All aboard!" Yelled Jake. After a few minutes they were all in the big rig. The beast roared as Jake flipped the switch. There used to be keys to use vehicles, but in the wastes, owning something did not mean anything.
Jake looked back. Deeds. He had heard Rama and Eden bet on Killrick caping deeds before we got to New York. Funny, Jake had never liked Deeds, and showed no pity for him. But Jake needed to be sure, so he waved Reik away and motioned for Killrick to come.
"So when are you going to cap Deeds?" Jake asked. Straight, and to the point.
welsh
Junkmaster
Deeds and I had bad blood between us. He pulled the trigger a bit too easy and a bit too recklessly. He had done it too many times, to my disadvantage.
"When the time is right." I said to Jake, quietly.
Then I turned to the others. The bodies were now buried and I could see the girl, Angie, sitting next to Deeds. Jasmin sitting a bit away. I liked Jasmin, she was stand up, she had guts and she was good. I would hate for her to get between Deeds and I.
Worse, I didn't like having the Tinkers with us. Clara at least brought her skills to the table. But their was a blood fued between them and I had little doubt that the child had been killed by the young woman.
"Where were you last night?" I asked Angie, demanding an answer.
"She was with me." Said Deeds, defensively. "All night." He gave me a swarmy smile.
The girls squirmed closer to Deeds protection, "That's right. I was with him."
"Yeah." I said. Definitely had plans for her.
The truck was now loaded with our supplies and our people. Maddy Stowe and Dr. Edwards were in the truck. Aaron was still favoring his stronger leg.
"Wolf, Eric. Use the bike and scout. Gally, on the .50. Let's go."
But before we could move I heard the puttering of a motor coming down the road.
It was a duster. Little more than a motored bicycle, dusters ran on simple engines fueled with an alcohol based fuel. The engines had been created out of mixed parts found throughout the wasteland, put together by manuals that got passed around by tech types. The better the tech, the more dependable the ride. It wouldn't have the speeds of Wolf's plasma charged bike, bit it got you around.
The dusters got their name because they set up a trail of dust where ever they went. This was puttered down, pretty confidently and pulled up near the Rig. A fellow in leather got off, a FAL strapped across his back. He dusted off some of the dust and lifted his goggles.
"Kilrick? Is that you?" He asked with a faint accent like Jake, "Got Jake with ya? "
It was Zaij. The bike had been made by Jake two years ago. Zaij was one of the small group of Aussie descendents from the group whose ship had gone up the Hudson shortly after the big war. What he was doing here, I didn't know.
"When the time is right." I said to Jake, quietly.
Then I turned to the others. The bodies were now buried and I could see the girl, Angie, sitting next to Deeds. Jasmin sitting a bit away. I liked Jasmin, she was stand up, she had guts and she was good. I would hate for her to get between Deeds and I.
Worse, I didn't like having the Tinkers with us. Clara at least brought her skills to the table. But their was a blood fued between them and I had little doubt that the child had been killed by the young woman.
"Where were you last night?" I asked Angie, demanding an answer.
"She was with me." Said Deeds, defensively. "All night." He gave me a swarmy smile.
The girls squirmed closer to Deeds protection, "That's right. I was with him."
"Yeah." I said. Definitely had plans for her.
The truck was now loaded with our supplies and our people. Maddy Stowe and Dr. Edwards were in the truck. Aaron was still favoring his stronger leg.
"Wolf, Eric. Use the bike and scout. Gally, on the .50. Let's go."
But before we could move I heard the puttering of a motor coming down the road.
It was a duster. Little more than a motored bicycle, dusters ran on simple engines fueled with an alcohol based fuel. The engines had been created out of mixed parts found throughout the wasteland, put together by manuals that got passed around by tech types. The better the tech, the more dependable the ride. It wouldn't have the speeds of Wolf's plasma charged bike, bit it got you around.
The dusters got their name because they set up a trail of dust where ever they went. This was puttered down, pretty confidently and pulled up near the Rig. A fellow in leather got off, a FAL strapped across his back. He dusted off some of the dust and lifted his goggles.
"Kilrick? Is that you?" He asked with a faint accent like Jake, "Got Jake with ya? "
It was Zaij. The bike had been made by Jake two years ago. Zaij was one of the small group of Aussie descendents from the group whose ship had gone up the Hudson shortly after the big war. What he was doing here, I didn't know.
OCC: What a weird way to start...
ICC:
Jake popped from around the rig and greeted me warmly.
"Zaij, mate! How are ya? Hows the duster?"
I adjusted his gloves and looked at Jake for what seemed like a long time. Then looked at Maddy.
"This shiela taken, or are you just not doing ya bloody job?"
Before Jake could speak, I continued.
"Jake mate, only got word a little while ago that you were on a big job. You wouldn't be trying to run off on a job without telling me? Dontcha memba when I got ya those parts for the duster?"
"Just, that was for your bloody duster!"
"..."
"Yeah..."
At that stage, Kilrick decided to but in.
"Look Zaij, we haven't got much time. We really need to go. We could do with another person though. You want in?"
I adjusted my gloves, looked at the rig and then looked back at the duster.
"Yeah, arite, but can I put my duster somewhere? Dont think the little thing would be fast enough to keep up with that blokes bike and your truck."
Without answering, he put the duster in the rig and hopped on. I adjusted my gloves and followed.
ICC:
Jake popped from around the rig and greeted me warmly.
"Zaij, mate! How are ya? Hows the duster?"
I adjusted his gloves and looked at Jake for what seemed like a long time. Then looked at Maddy.
"This shiela taken, or are you just not doing ya bloody job?"
Before Jake could speak, I continued.
"Jake mate, only got word a little while ago that you were on a big job. You wouldn't be trying to run off on a job without telling me? Dontcha memba when I got ya those parts for the duster?"
"Just, that was for your bloody duster!"
"..."
"Yeah..."
At that stage, Kilrick decided to but in.
"Look Zaij, we haven't got much time. We really need to go. We could do with another person though. You want in?"
I adjusted my gloves, looked at the rig and then looked back at the duster.
"Yeah, arite, but can I put my duster somewhere? Dont think the little thing would be fast enough to keep up with that blokes bike and your truck."
Without answering, he put the duster in the rig and hopped on. I adjusted my gloves and followed.
Edden checked her caps and made sure her investment was secure. Rama wasn't a gambler, and knowing him, he bet on surer things. Which meant, he knew something more.
But it didn't matter. Money was the least of her worries. Only the killing and the carnage that kept her on.
It was all that mattered now. More maggots to kill some money to earn. And who knows, maybe she'd get to put one behind Angie's skull, just before her tits were sliced off and her clit bitten off.
But it didn't matter. Money was the least of her worries. Only the killing and the carnage that kept her on.
It was all that mattered now. More maggots to kill some money to earn. And who knows, maybe she'd get to put one behind Angie's skull, just before her tits were sliced off and her clit bitten off.
welsh
Junkmaster
The course was simple. We'd go through Maggotville, stop to pick up the Tinker carts, then over the river and up the hill to where the wind turbine was. We'd mine the conduit, another group would set up a perimeter around the turbine tower and a third group would dismantle it.
Once the conduit team finished they'd move up and help us load the truck. With a full crew the job should be quick.
Then, once the load was set, we'd start for Gluetown. Along the way there was an old strongpoint we could use for the night's shelter. I was tempted to go through the night to Gluetown. We'd be there in the morning, either way. But the hills between Maggotville and Gluetown were known to be popular with the Dire. The Dire were more fearless at night and once I'd seen one of the big wolves pull a man off a vehicle in motion.
With Zaij in the rig, we were ready we left. Less than two hours later we were at the overlook above the town. The fire had spread. Parts had been burnt to the ground, other buildings had caught fire. However, the Tinker wagons looked to be in the same place we had left then, only their contents had been tossed about.
Jake but the Rig back into gear and soon we were next to the wagon. Reik, Gally and Clara got out to attach one cart to the tail of the rig. Rama took position behind the .50 and the rest of us filed out around to secure a perimeter.
Besides the sounds of fire destroying buildings, the town was silent, but the burning reminded me of the smell of charded corpses in no-man's land and left me with a sense of foreboding.
Once the conduit team finished they'd move up and help us load the truck. With a full crew the job should be quick.
Then, once the load was set, we'd start for Gluetown. Along the way there was an old strongpoint we could use for the night's shelter. I was tempted to go through the night to Gluetown. We'd be there in the morning, either way. But the hills between Maggotville and Gluetown were known to be popular with the Dire. The Dire were more fearless at night and once I'd seen one of the big wolves pull a man off a vehicle in motion.
With Zaij in the rig, we were ready we left. Less than two hours later we were at the overlook above the town. The fire had spread. Parts had been burnt to the ground, other buildings had caught fire. However, the Tinker wagons looked to be in the same place we had left then, only their contents had been tossed about.
Jake but the Rig back into gear and soon we were next to the wagon. Reik, Gally and Clara got out to attach one cart to the tail of the rig. Rama took position behind the .50 and the rest of us filed out around to secure a perimeter.
Besides the sounds of fire destroying buildings, the town was silent, but the burning reminded me of the smell of charded corpses in no-man's land and left me with a sense of foreboding.
I adjusted my gloves, put my Fal down next to me, my desert eagle in my hand and got out a bottle of booze. Taking a swig, I began to think. Maybe I should've asked more about this job when I started. Maybe I shouldn't have come all this way at all... Maybe, maybe, bloody maybe. I hoped I could kill something on this trip. I hoped i could get a good deal of pay. I was about three quaters the way through my bottle when I heard someone say my name.
"Zaij?"
Maybe i imagined it. Maybe, bloody maybe.
"Zaij?"
Maybe i imagined it. Maybe, bloody maybe.
-"Kid! Look out!" I shouted and woke up in my corner of the rig. I slept very bad this time.
-"What's up?" - Rama said - "too much booze? Hahahah!"
Indeed, I looked like I was "a bit" drunk. Half-conscious, shaking.
-"What? Booze..?" - I stopped talking for a while - "I need to sleep, I hadn't slept all night. Have you buried the kid yet?"
I looked through the surprised faces at the rig. I knew what they were thinking: "How could he know this?". I didn't see the bike and two of men, though I noticed a guy I've never seen before. "Must be someone new" I thought.
-"I heard some strange sounds outside; I had a light sleeping, so I went out to check if the truck is still there. I hadn't got a weapon, so I thought a better idea is to climb the building roof. And then I saw the Dire having feast on someone. I decided to stay there to guard."
-"Haven't you seen something strange there?" - asked Kilrick, who was very interested in what happened there.
-"Nothing unusual, I heard some people walking, but I couldn't see anyone. I was getting asleep almost the whole time there. I came here at the morning"
-"Oh" - Kilrick said, but it was sure he wanted to say something more, but he couldn't say it now.
-"So what's the plan for now?" - I asked now fullly conscious
-"What's up?" - Rama said - "too much booze? Hahahah!"
Indeed, I looked like I was "a bit" drunk. Half-conscious, shaking.
-"What? Booze..?" - I stopped talking for a while - "I need to sleep, I hadn't slept all night. Have you buried the kid yet?"
I looked through the surprised faces at the rig. I knew what they were thinking: "How could he know this?". I didn't see the bike and two of men, though I noticed a guy I've never seen before. "Must be someone new" I thought.
-"I heard some strange sounds outside; I had a light sleeping, so I went out to check if the truck is still there. I hadn't got a weapon, so I thought a better idea is to climb the building roof. And then I saw the Dire having feast on someone. I decided to stay there to guard."
-"Haven't you seen something strange there?" - asked Kilrick, who was very interested in what happened there.
-"Nothing unusual, I heard some people walking, but I couldn't see anyone. I was getting asleep almost the whole time there. I came here at the morning"
-"Oh" - Kilrick said, but it was sure he wanted to say something more, but he couldn't say it now.
-"So what's the plan for now?" - I asked now fullly conscious
welsh
Junkmaster
Rohan had managed to sleep the entire way to Maggotville, so when he opened his eyes he had to blink in the glare of the sun.
"Where the hell...."
"Maggotville. Get your shit together or lay off the bottle." I said. Then I got closer and whispered so only he could here. "Stay in the truck and keep an eye on the doctors, the kid, and the girl."
Inside the rig, Maddy Stowe and Dr. Edwards had both picked up assault rifles which they pointed out towards the buildings. Neither had said much so far. Up until now they hadn't seen much action and weren't used to it. So both were nervous.
I got down and looked over the heads of the people on perimeter. Reik, Clara and Gally were working with Clara to hitch up the tinker car to the rig. I didn't need to tell them to hurry.
Above us musroomed the smoke from the fires that had consumed a number of the buildings in the town. But the smoke was going away from the sun, and perhaps that's why the Maggots weren't causing a problem. But when we got up to the turbine the wind would be working against us, and the maggots might be braver.
My eyes wandered to the building. I couldn't see them, but I was sure they were there, watching, waiting, pissed off that we had again ventured into their territory.
The bodies of the dead that had been left behind were gone. But there were blood stains. Even the carcasses of the Brahmin were missing. Perhaps the Brahmin had wandered away, not that it mattered. If not the maggots than the Dire would have had them.
"Rama." I called out.
"Got it." Said Rama on the .50. "Nothing ahead yet."
Edden, Wolf, Eric, Jasmin and Dees and Aaron were on perimeter. I blinked into the cart. Most of the stuff inside was in disarray, the few possessions that Clara and her kin had inherited.
"How we doing with the hitch." I called back.
"Couple more minutes."
"Stay sharp, I want to take a look at the other cart. Tell me when you are ready." I caleld back and went out to the other cart to take a look inside. Junk mostly, but perhaps there would be something for New York. I also noticed that we could hitch it to the back of the second.
I rifled through the parts. Slipping into my pack a few tools and some wiring, Inside one of the boxes I found a stealth boy. In another a geiger counter. There was also a motion sensor, but it seemed in a state of disrepair. I kept looking. In a cabinet I found a few medical supplies and a bottle of pills.
"Got it!" Called Reik.
"Comin." I called. Leaving the inside of the cart and going back to the Rig.
I was almost back into the perimeter when I heard a cry.
I turned and got a glimpse of it. But then there was a sound like a hammering of thunder clouds.
Fast. Damn fast. One of the maggots had come tear assing out of one of the buildings for me. Edden had fires a blast of shotgun shells in front of it, and the creature and ran right into the burst. THe shells had picked it up and carried it a half doze hards to leave it in a wet puddle of it's own blood.
"Thanks." I said to Edden as I passed.
"That's what you pay me for."
"Let's go, every one in and we're out of here."
I said.
Fast. Damn fast. Like a blur it had run across. I looked at Jasmin, visibly nervous. Deeds was smiling but it hid his fears. A squad of heavily armed grunts had been wiped out in virtually a blink of the eye. WHy, because the maggots were fast, very damn fast.
Jake kicked the rig into gear and everyone was pointing their rifles out of the truck now. The truck moved down the street, as fast as possible. The plow on front ramming through what obstacles stood in the way. Passing burning buildings whose heat made our skin turn red.
We slipped under a shadow.
Another blur, and one of them reached it's long clawed arms over the side of the rig as we started moving. Aaron was there, pointing his automatic rifle at the creature an blasting away at it. Still it was able to back hand him across the truck. Eric there now blasting away and the clawed hand came loose and dropped away. We felt a bump as the rig drove over the body and then we could see the crushed body behind us.
Wolf was helping Aaron who had been knocked aside and was shaking his head. He'd be bruised but alright.
"Jake let's move quick. now." I called.
Jake picked up the speed. All along the truck the riders began to take bursts at anything suspicious.
We came up on the bridge over the small river. Across it was a roadblock. Whether the maggots had made it to keep out Dire or to trap those who came in, I wasn't sure.
I loaded up my .40 mm with a high explosive shell and I saw Deeds open up on the the boxes they had brought with them, revealing a rocket launcher.
He looked at me.'
"Yeah." I said. "To the right it looks weaker. On my call."
Deeds climbed up so that he was kneeling above the cab of the Rig. Jake inside saying. "We shouldn't be stoppin too long."
I said to Rama, "Deeds fires first. Everyone else get down. When I say ready.""
Deeds reached back and took the launcher and put it on his shoulder. Jasmin moved up behind him and loaded it with a high explosive round into the back end of the rocket launcher. She tapped him on the shoulder and he nodded. It was all very fast and trained.
"Ready!" I called. Those in the truck dropped down.
"Fire."
A tongue of flame came out the rear of the launcher as a missile skated through the air the short distance over the bridge to hit the blockade to the Right. The explosion tore a hole in the blocade, sending pieces of metal and debris in all direction.
I had ducked back but came up after the blast with my .40 mm as Rama aimed the .50 into the remains. I fired my .40 mm into the remains of the blocade at the Right. further enlarging the hole as Rama racked the blockade with .50 shells. Deeds and Jasmin pulled back into the bed of the rig.
"Go Jake." I called and Jake quickly put the Rig into ramming speed.
If there were maggots by the blocade they disappeared without us seeing them. Jake easily rammed through the last of the blockade and we were out with a whoop and a hollar.
Over us hung the big black cloud that hid the sky.
We drove a short distance before we came to the first of the conduit buildings.
Clara said, "The tunnel probably leads under the road and river back to town, but this would be the first control booth. There's another up yonder and then the generator itself."
Further up the hill was the turbine. About half a mile. The river was only about 100 yards behind us and behind that, the town.
I looked at the mining crew and shook my head. This was too close. There were too few to mine the conduit and watch the surface if the maggots hit them in force. "Keep going Jake."
Jake too us up where we found a second small cinderblock building, it's white paint chipped away. About half way up. About 400 yards from the top of the hill, about 600 yards away from the town.
It was still damn close.
"Be fast." I told the crew. They hopped off an made their way to the cinderblock building.
"Keep an eye on the town. Jake, let's go."
We continued up the hill till we came to the top. The propeller blade of the wind turbine still slowly circled in the burnt air. We had a few hundred yards of clearing and then bramble.
We moved the truck into a position for where it could cover both the mining team and the road up the hill from the town with the .50. Then the crew went to work.
occ-
Ok, I am leaving off there. Will be gone for less than a week. I think the mining team is only 3 people and they are to mine the tunnel and get out. Gally, Clara, Ellroy and Jake will be bringing down the turbine and generator, and the rest will be on perimeter or help with the loading.
"Where the hell...."
"Maggotville. Get your shit together or lay off the bottle." I said. Then I got closer and whispered so only he could here. "Stay in the truck and keep an eye on the doctors, the kid, and the girl."
Inside the rig, Maddy Stowe and Dr. Edwards had both picked up assault rifles which they pointed out towards the buildings. Neither had said much so far. Up until now they hadn't seen much action and weren't used to it. So both were nervous.
I got down and looked over the heads of the people on perimeter. Reik, Clara and Gally were working with Clara to hitch up the tinker car to the rig. I didn't need to tell them to hurry.
Above us musroomed the smoke from the fires that had consumed a number of the buildings in the town. But the smoke was going away from the sun, and perhaps that's why the Maggots weren't causing a problem. But when we got up to the turbine the wind would be working against us, and the maggots might be braver.
My eyes wandered to the building. I couldn't see them, but I was sure they were there, watching, waiting, pissed off that we had again ventured into their territory.
The bodies of the dead that had been left behind were gone. But there were blood stains. Even the carcasses of the Brahmin were missing. Perhaps the Brahmin had wandered away, not that it mattered. If not the maggots than the Dire would have had them.
"Rama." I called out.
"Got it." Said Rama on the .50. "Nothing ahead yet."
Edden, Wolf, Eric, Jasmin and Dees and Aaron were on perimeter. I blinked into the cart. Most of the stuff inside was in disarray, the few possessions that Clara and her kin had inherited.
"How we doing with the hitch." I called back.
"Couple more minutes."
"Stay sharp, I want to take a look at the other cart. Tell me when you are ready." I caleld back and went out to the other cart to take a look inside. Junk mostly, but perhaps there would be something for New York. I also noticed that we could hitch it to the back of the second.
I rifled through the parts. Slipping into my pack a few tools and some wiring, Inside one of the boxes I found a stealth boy. In another a geiger counter. There was also a motion sensor, but it seemed in a state of disrepair. I kept looking. In a cabinet I found a few medical supplies and a bottle of pills.
"Got it!" Called Reik.
"Comin." I called. Leaving the inside of the cart and going back to the Rig.
I was almost back into the perimeter when I heard a cry.
I turned and got a glimpse of it. But then there was a sound like a hammering of thunder clouds.
Fast. Damn fast. One of the maggots had come tear assing out of one of the buildings for me. Edden had fires a blast of shotgun shells in front of it, and the creature and ran right into the burst. THe shells had picked it up and carried it a half doze hards to leave it in a wet puddle of it's own blood.
"Thanks." I said to Edden as I passed.
"That's what you pay me for."
"Let's go, every one in and we're out of here."
I said.
Fast. Damn fast. Like a blur it had run across. I looked at Jasmin, visibly nervous. Deeds was smiling but it hid his fears. A squad of heavily armed grunts had been wiped out in virtually a blink of the eye. WHy, because the maggots were fast, very damn fast.
Jake kicked the rig into gear and everyone was pointing their rifles out of the truck now. The truck moved down the street, as fast as possible. The plow on front ramming through what obstacles stood in the way. Passing burning buildings whose heat made our skin turn red.
We slipped under a shadow.
Another blur, and one of them reached it's long clawed arms over the side of the rig as we started moving. Aaron was there, pointing his automatic rifle at the creature an blasting away at it. Still it was able to back hand him across the truck. Eric there now blasting away and the clawed hand came loose and dropped away. We felt a bump as the rig drove over the body and then we could see the crushed body behind us.
Wolf was helping Aaron who had been knocked aside and was shaking his head. He'd be bruised but alright.
"Jake let's move quick. now." I called.
Jake picked up the speed. All along the truck the riders began to take bursts at anything suspicious.
We came up on the bridge over the small river. Across it was a roadblock. Whether the maggots had made it to keep out Dire or to trap those who came in, I wasn't sure.
I loaded up my .40 mm with a high explosive shell and I saw Deeds open up on the the boxes they had brought with them, revealing a rocket launcher.
He looked at me.'
"Yeah." I said. "To the right it looks weaker. On my call."
Deeds climbed up so that he was kneeling above the cab of the Rig. Jake inside saying. "We shouldn't be stoppin too long."
I said to Rama, "Deeds fires first. Everyone else get down. When I say ready.""
Deeds reached back and took the launcher and put it on his shoulder. Jasmin moved up behind him and loaded it with a high explosive round into the back end of the rocket launcher. She tapped him on the shoulder and he nodded. It was all very fast and trained.
"Ready!" I called. Those in the truck dropped down.
"Fire."
A tongue of flame came out the rear of the launcher as a missile skated through the air the short distance over the bridge to hit the blockade to the Right. The explosion tore a hole in the blocade, sending pieces of metal and debris in all direction.
I had ducked back but came up after the blast with my .40 mm as Rama aimed the .50 into the remains. I fired my .40 mm into the remains of the blocade at the Right. further enlarging the hole as Rama racked the blockade with .50 shells. Deeds and Jasmin pulled back into the bed of the rig.
"Go Jake." I called and Jake quickly put the Rig into ramming speed.
If there were maggots by the blocade they disappeared without us seeing them. Jake easily rammed through the last of the blockade and we were out with a whoop and a hollar.
Over us hung the big black cloud that hid the sky.
We drove a short distance before we came to the first of the conduit buildings.
Clara said, "The tunnel probably leads under the road and river back to town, but this would be the first control booth. There's another up yonder and then the generator itself."
Further up the hill was the turbine. About half a mile. The river was only about 100 yards behind us and behind that, the town.
I looked at the mining crew and shook my head. This was too close. There were too few to mine the conduit and watch the surface if the maggots hit them in force. "Keep going Jake."
Jake too us up where we found a second small cinderblock building, it's white paint chipped away. About half way up. About 400 yards from the top of the hill, about 600 yards away from the town.
It was still damn close.
"Be fast." I told the crew. They hopped off an made their way to the cinderblock building.
"Keep an eye on the town. Jake, let's go."
We continued up the hill till we came to the top. The propeller blade of the wind turbine still slowly circled in the burnt air. We had a few hundred yards of clearing and then bramble.
We moved the truck into a position for where it could cover both the mining team and the road up the hill from the town with the .50. Then the crew went to work.
occ-
Ok, I am leaving off there. Will be gone for less than a week. I think the mining team is only 3 people and they are to mine the tunnel and get out. Gally, Clara, Ellroy and Jake will be bringing down the turbine and generator, and the rest will be on perimeter or help with the loading.
I jumped out of the truck and took position at a treetop near the truck. I readied my rifle and started to search for an enemy who could mess our job. The scope was undusted, so I could clearly see all in about 2 kilometers around. If there was anything that I couldn't see, it was in the tuins or in the cloud of dust that the truck left behind.
I was sitting there on a branch extremely calm, but ready to act in every second with most power.
I was sitting there on a branch extremely calm, but ready to act in every second with most power.
Edden crouched and kept her eye to the bead of the shotgun. Tracking and carefully guaging distance between the fluttering in the shadows.
"We're on the clock peoples. Let's raise hell and leave these fuck's the cheque." Edden was thirsty for some more blood. The first beast died the way she planned it in her minds eye, and the end product was satisfying. The bandages on her arms and shoulder had long healed, but she didn't mind the bandages there. It looked... cool.
The ruins of the city stood like jagged skeltons reaching to the heavens that no longer cared for them. It was appalling. But anger the Gods and don't expect a light slap on the wrist.
"Eric..." She called to her oriental comarde, "Keep your eyes to the buildings. I see movement, and I'm out of range."
Grabbing something from her breast pocket, she pulled some odd looking grenade like object from between her bosoms. She turned the dial to the left and it was set to proximity. Anything coming to close would be in a world of hurt. She tossed it to the nearest darkened building.
It was toy she pried out of the dead fingers of some dead traveller. What the dead had no use for, Edden had a final task for.
"We're on the clock peoples. Let's raise hell and leave these fuck's the cheque." Edden was thirsty for some more blood. The first beast died the way she planned it in her minds eye, and the end product was satisfying. The bandages on her arms and shoulder had long healed, but she didn't mind the bandages there. It looked... cool.
The ruins of the city stood like jagged skeltons reaching to the heavens that no longer cared for them. It was appalling. But anger the Gods and don't expect a light slap on the wrist.
"Eric..." She called to her oriental comarde, "Keep your eyes to the buildings. I see movement, and I'm out of range."
Grabbing something from her breast pocket, she pulled some odd looking grenade like object from between her bosoms. She turned the dial to the left and it was set to proximity. Anything coming to close would be in a world of hurt. She tossed it to the nearest darkened building.
It was toy she pried out of the dead fingers of some dead traveller. What the dead had no use for, Edden had a final task for.
- Status