ICC- Kilrick Salvage Inc.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jake had followed Killrick around for most of the day, as Killrick was just about Jake's only friend, and there was noone Jake'd rather cover his ass in a gunfight. But now he was talking buisness with the boss of this clan. So now jake had some time to kill.
Wandering around, boring.
"Hey, you, big guy, need anything?" Asked a voice out of one of the shops. Jake walked up to their.
"Well, wouldn't mind some armour, but I don't think you'd have anything for a bloke of my stature." Jake replied.
"Well now, I wouldn't say that..." Said the man. He led Jake away, and was soon surrounded by a small groop of gunrunners.
"Well, you have most likely heard of Power Armor right? Well, we actually have some. But you see, you most likely do not have anything that would pay for it. Although, you arn't from around here, are you?"
"Nah, not from this country mate, but whats that got to do with the price of fish?" Asked Jake.
"Well, see, we have access to... A nice piece of transport, so, if you were to well, gives us an idea of any countries you know...."
Jake knew, these boys wanted to expand, and shit, they had the stuff to do it. Well, Jake couldn't say no. Might get him a suit of something nice...
 
*Gunrunner Camp*

With his new rifle slung over his shoulder, Eric decided to take a walk. A couple of kids were playing ball and had accidentally sent it towards his direction. "Hey mister, how about kicking the ball back so Charlie here doesn't have to run over there and get it?" As Eric kicked the ball back, he momentarily felt something he had not felt for a very long time, a bit of peace.

"How quickly time goes by. It seems like yesterday when I would go play with the other kids after finishing my chores. I still remember looking at the stars with the gang and wondering, would we ever reach the stars again? Before the war, it was almost a common occurence. Now, the world was a very different place" Brushing off the feeling of nostalgia, Eric was about to go to the pub before the sight of an extremely beautiful woman changed his mind.

Her face was a perfect oval, made more beautiful by her ocean blue eyes. Her shoulder length, curly brown hair, only accentuated her features. The way she bent over and talked to one of the children playing ball, and the defiant look the child returned to her, either said she was his older sister or maybe his mother. Although he would usually brush off the idea, the thought of marrying a nice girl and settling down still had its appeal.

Lost in his thoughts, Eric had not noticed the woman returning his gaze until it was too late. Embarrassed, he quickly looked away and only managed to glimpse a kind smile thrown in his direction before she disappeared back into what Eric thought was her home.

"God, I'm getting soft." Getting back to the real world, Eric began cleaning and checking out his his new toy.
 
OCC- Ok, quick one. No power armor fellas.

ICC-

I followed Talon up the stairs into his office, wondering what the old fellow might want. Something between Stryfe and the girl, a favor.

And if he knew more about New York, than perhaps I could be in a giving mood.

But I was also feeling a bit vulnerable. Someone had snitched about our job, Spengler.

How Spengler had gotten a whiff of what we had going, I wasn't sure. But it wouldn't suprise me if the Major had cut a side deal with Spengler, enticed him to follow us into New York.

Spengler was competition but he wasn't an enemy, not exactly. Sure he's screw me if he could get a profit out of it. I'd do the same.

That was how the game got played.

But he kept his word and could be trusted when you had your back to his and were fighting off raiders, man eaters, or one-eyed slappers.

So we competed, but it wasn't exactly unfriendly either. There was enough work for both of us.

If he caught a whiff of the deal he might cut himself in. Or perhaps he was invited to the game by Major himself. A little insurance taken out on me.

Well, we'd deal with that when we came to it. I was more concerned with New York and what Talon had to say.
 
Business

Entering the Inner sanctum, Talon led Kilirck into an office that would have been the envy of an pre-war crime detective... except it was neater and held some relics. Four and five shelve book stacks were clean with a large orange/red varnished desk at the center. It had a view of the entire facility through the adjascent windows.

A wall fan which was wired to function as it once did a century ago. A bright flurescent light hung above them.

Some weapons, pre-war were displayed behind protective glass displays as well as trophies from wars past. A picture of a Father and his children together, which was taken by a pre-war camera. A young man with dark hair standing near a tall impossing figure which seemed like a much colder version of Talon with less hair and patch over his right eye.

"Please," Talon jestured towards an empty mahogany chair, "sit, we have somethings to discuss."

He waited for Kilrick to sit first before taking his seat behind his desk.

Kilrick hesistantly sat down, but Talon merely smiled and Kilrick found no reason to insult the old man and took a seat. And to his amazement he felt...

"Comfortable." Kilrick said with surpirse,

"Good." Talon took a seat and broke out a bottle of his finest Whiskey, garbbing two shot glasses and pouring one for himself and offering one to Kilrick.

"I trust... Spengler... and you aren't friendly, eh?" The old man chuckled as he played with the black shot glass between his fingers. The way predatory cats toy with their food. Gulping it down, ending the chase as the fire water in one toss without the dizziness or burn. "Well, he isn't the socialable type, I say that much. Of course, if he were a slaver or perhaps a Grey, I'd have him and his group shot on sight. Alas, customers who pay well and mind their manners to my kin can have their attitudes over looked. But that isn't the case... Tell me what you want and I'll see if I can help you."
 
The whiskey felt good going down.

"Thanks for the drink, and I don't mean to be anti-social. I appreciate your courtesy."

Better to be nice.

"But you asked me for a favor. I'm here at your request. If you give me what I ask, information, than I am in your debt. It's a contract, and I'll owe. I don't like debts, especially the ones that come that I'd feel honored to bid by."

Talon didn't say anything, knowing where this was going. So I finished my say on it.

"You asked me here so let's say we figure out what you want me to do for you, and I'll figure out if it's worth the price?"

Talon watched me a long moment.

When I figured he wouldn't speak I moved to get up.

Talon spoke, "Wait...."

OCC- Ok, Rama this is back in your court.
 
"Please... Sit. The imaptience of youth (sigh)" Talon said, his voice not forceful, but yet it was commanding. "Okay, you want to speak of price... Fine. My one request is..." He could feel Kilrick's curious gaze trying to gaze on what was behind thos blue eyes.

"My price is simple.... When you reach New York.... when you see the accursed isle of what was once called Manhattan, I want you to find my father.... or his remains. His name is Jorus Cardais. The man whom you see me with in the picture... Except gaunter. I need to know what happened to him.

It is remote he maybe alive... but he is a bit more than your average man. He was a survivor... and for my own peace of mind I need to know. Accept this and I will tell you all I know. Passwords, routes... and well Stryfe knows New York better since he was there."

"Stryfe was in New York?"

"Oh, yes. Seven years ago. He was and now is the last of the Desert Rangers. You know them, the protectors of old. The ones who fought for our freedoms. Of course, the purges and wars to come wiped them out. Stryfe went to New York with his brother and the last of his men."

"What happened to them?"

Talon sighed. "I had sent my sons and Violin went too. Ah, what a tenacious child. So full of fire. Much like her own mother. Anyway, I was evading the point, alas, even old wolves tend to lose it now and again. My small group went to aid them and... and they were slaughtered. They fought valiantly, that I know... But only Tycho, Lady West, Violin and Stryfe survived. Stryfe survived barely. Seems the Vanguards, whom you may know - the Sugarman and Shillinger set the security off and well... forty souls were lost under the hail of laser bolts and gun fire.

Stryfe suffered the worst. Wounds so bad his body should have tore itself apart just trying to heal. But he even the medic bots we 'appropriated from the Vanguard noted something more than drugs kept him alive. It was the will to live. What I know of Stryfe is little and believe me, I know much, Kilrick. You may possess some knowledge of the old world. I possess more. Never underestimate Stryfe, that is my one warning. He is one tough barve. But fear not, I have no request of you to kill him." The last remark was met with a predatory smile.

"But I have rambled on. You wish to know why two competitors were sent to redrive the samething. What would the Greens stand to profit if Spengler and Kilrick hunt for the same bounty. Well if you know history, the Merc wars should teach us one thing."

Kilrick gave a curious glance. "And that is?"

"Predators trapped in the same den turn on each other." Talon finished. "You see, like you Spengler carries around a group to pry god knows what from that horrid place. How in the Dark Lords name will he pass the Vanguards and the sentry patrols is anyones guess... But its what they called in the old times: Insurance. You and Spenler are merely insurance for the other. If one fails, the other has a better chance of succeeding.

In the long and short of it, Kilrick, you are being manipulated by the Greens. But I fear most what they may want to dig out of New York. After all, no one has dared traverse those black streets since the great darkness. Things walk there where no man can cross and danger is on every corner.

So tell me, Kilrick, do you know what they are sending you to find?"
 
Talon had filled in a lot of gaps and now I had a clearer picture of Stryfe. The news on Spengler wasn't a great suprise. I wasn't surprised the major would retain another crew. The job did require delivery for the fee so basically it went to whoever delivered the prize.

But I had predicted someone else would be after the prize. The major was a prick to go behind me, but pricks were nothing if not predictable.

The Vanguars and the sentrybots? well no one said this would be easy. I would be curious as to how Spengler would get past.

But the news I did get was interesting, which made disappoinging the old man worse.

"Sorry Talon. I wish I could tell you." I said, with a shrug. "I have been retained by the Greens and we are still negotiating the price. They haven't given me all the details. But even if they had, I wouldn't divulge it. No offense meant, but it's part of the deal."

"One must respect the principal's confidences, ehh?" Said Talon.

Talon understood well enough.

"Something like that, yeah. You spill enough information on your employer and you might find yourself terminated. Bad business doesn't last long."

"I understand. It is a matter of business." Talon said, but I could tell he wasn't quite relieved. Whatever the Greens were after, it was enough to worry him.

"There is something else though." I added. "New York is pretty big. What makes you think I can find you dad?"
 
A wan smile appeared on the corner of the old man's face that gacve him all the virtues of an elderly wolf. "Oh, you'll have no trouble in that," the corners of Talon's mouth seemed to twitch as he handed Kilrick a small device that looked like a smaller version of a motion sensor. "You'll know. Believe me, you'll know. Manhattan is where he'd be. But watch it. If he is alive... he'd be a lil hard edged. If you do se him, just tell him that the Family is alright and hand him this holo-tape." Talon hands him a disk and sets a bag of 2000 credits next to it.

"You can read it if you like, but its a family affair. 2000 credits to compensate you for your time.

Kilrick gave a quizzical look and Talon merely smiled and said in his drawling voice, "Odd times my friend. Odd times."
 
"Fair enough." I said.

I'd be a fool not to look at it. But if my guess was right, I'd learn little from the tape except what Talon had already told me.

And a couple of thousand credits might help defry expenses.

"What I need to know is basically what you know about New York." I said. "I haven't been in a few years and I know well enough that everything changes, especially in New York."

"Yes. New York remains as turbulent as ever." Said Talon.

"Exactly. I don't plan on staying there long. Just grab the prize and leave. I have a few ideas about getting in." I said.

"Most of the ways are guarded." Said Talon. "Or watched over. Or impassable. How were you planning to get in." He was smooth about the question, the way a good card player drops a card.

I smiled. "That's private. Let's say I have a way and backups. But I don't know if they are still good, so entrances and exits are a must."

"Of course." Talon said, nodding.

"You mentioned sentrybots, if you have the codes it will make life easier." I said. My hands were a little rusty on tech stuff, but I could try and if not me, maybe Jake. "and then there are the Vanguards."

"Yes."

"Whatever you can tell me about them. Hell anything about the political lay of the land. WHo rules, what neighborhoods, where is no-man's land and what turf is hot." I added.

"Don't forget about underneath." Talon reminded me.

"Yes, the subways and the sewar tunnels. What kind of rats might we expect." Down in the tunnels there were rats that would bite your head off. And that wasn't nearly the worst of it.

"Do you know what part of New York you will be visiting?" He asked. Like a tour guide on one of those old holo-films about far off places with unrecognized names.

"Not yet." I said "But there is something else I have heard only through rumors."

Talon didn't say anything but I could see his eyebrow curve as if begging the question.

"There is a new player in town. Someone with big toys and a lot of muscle. And he ain't a native New Yorker." I said.

"What are is this new player called?" Asked Talon.

"It's more like a gang, or an army. Someone that gave the Greys those shells they were throwing at us, or maybe the guns. Someone called" I tried to get my tongue around the words until I could pronounce it. "fuzil-learos nava- is colon ais?"

But Talon shook his head.
 
*Gunrunner Camp*

"Where the hell are the others. They sure are taking their own sweet time." Eric soon got tired of waiting and decided to head into the pub.

As he opened the door, the familiar stench of smoke, liquor and body odor filled his nostrils. Creaks in the wood echoed Eric's footsteps as he made his way to the bartender.

"I would like a bloody mary and some information". The 5'11 mulatto made the drink and slided it to Eric. "What information do you want?"

"First of all, you haven't seen any hardasses from Arizona have you?" The bartenders eyes gave him an answer. "Godamn you Greifswald, I know your near. Now the question is what the hell your agenda is."
 
OCC- ok Rama, I wanted to give you a chance to plug in here, but it's time to move the story along.

ICC-
I continued to parlay with Talon for a few hours, and he gave me what info he could. It wasn't all trustworthy, but I didn't feel as if he was jerking me around. More likely the info was old.

Not many people come back from New York, and as they say, dead man tell no tales.

WHen it was over, I thanked him, took the holodisc and got up. We shook hands and he wished me luck.

I nodded and left the room, looking to find the others.

He had told me plenty, mostly bad. Now I wanted a drink and a woman. Sleep too. We had a long road ahead on what could be a one way trip.

If cheap thrills was all that was available, than cheap thrills would be enough.
 
The Red Corner Bar

It hadn't been long when Stryfe and Violin sorted out affairs and he'd agree in the end to settle down. Something that seem to violate that consummate wanderers soul he carried. The idea of family and peace seem to good to be true. After all the years of bloodshed and feuds, the demons of the past are very reluctant to let go of your soul.

In the distance as he turned to go into the bar, Stryfe could see his son Armand and his mate Violin standing above and watching him. His son's intense green eyes reminded Stryfe alot of himself when he was younger, when he clinged to his mother. Even though that was nearly two decades ago, the vision is as fresh as the stench of the sea that lay under the bridge of the Vanguards post. His eyes still hold the same furious glint.

Opening the door, Stryfe was greeted by the scent of stale cigarettes and a mixture of fine and old liquires. Men, women and even young adolescenses part-taking in drinking.

The place seemed like anarchy, yet with a sense of order. The Gunrunners were a disciplined lot, and brawling was usually taken care of swiftly and brutally by Tycho and Lady West who stood in the corner, drinking some Fire Bird and XXX Beer.

"Barkeep. HellSpawn Brew." Stryfe requested.

The barkeeper was a hefty mutant by the name of Johnny Walker. His one good eye looked at Stryfe and his thick green lips parted and gave a toothy smile. Been a' while, Stryfe.... Thought you was dead." The mutant's thick accenbt was like that of the Jazz players of old, thick and ponderous like a sage. Well, Johnny used to be a warrior, but now was content on living his years out as a barkeep. Something he used to do before he transformed. He grabbed the copper glass bottle with the Hell Spawn figure on the label and passed it to stryfe.

"No such luck."

"Yup... The lucky one's die."
 
Charlyn....

The dim light of the bulb in the basement below was enough to convince Charlyn that she wasn't dead and that her worst fears were confirmed:

She was alive.

The Doctor with her spectacles that made her eyes seem larger than they were checked a small note pad before administering another shot of the reddish fluid of the stimpak into her system. And as much as the brown skinned Charlyn hated being poked by anything, she had to let out a weak sigh of pleasure as the chem calmed her nerves.

The Doctor gave a quizzical look but let it go as she met the cold amber eyes of Charlyn. If some people got a sexual kick out of stims, power to them, the doctor might have thought blankly.

"You can go, Miss Charlyn. You're fine now. Just stay out of trouble. Hmm, of course, you got off easy. The Slavers on the other hand will have to do as dogmeat."

"Don't call me 'miss'. Doc," Charlyn replied, "making me feel old. Damn, I need a smoke." The nicotiner pinch caught her and she began to search her person for a ciagrette.

With only her Cat's Paw shirt, she grabbed her one sleev leather jacket and began to collect her things. Doning the jacket and heading towards the ladder which would lead her upstairs to where all the life was. Her Berettas were holstered and the shotgun at her side. Her short hair was greased down and still carried the violet tint it had for years. Grabbing a cigarette from her pocket and crumpling the box which was now useless, she flicked her lighter and lit the tip.

The orange glow could be seen as men and fellow Gunrunners parted for Charlyn to pass. Some murmured others kept hushed voices.

They knew who she was... and what she did for a living. And no one wanted to get in her way.
 
Kilrick-

I was getting my mind around what Talon had said, how it fit with what I knew. What it meant for us getting into New York and the price we'd have to pay. It made barter a bit more tough.

The trader was playing it tough, but in the end I got the supplies I needed. Stimpacks, universal antidotes, field and doctor kits, trauma packs.

It was the EMP shells that cost the most. The grenades weren't cheap either. But it was the best way to kill bots.

"Goin' to Man-hattan, Eh?" Said the one eyed trader.

"How much?" I asked, ignoring the question.

It had cost most of the stock liberated from O'Neil but then you can't take it with ya when ya die.

I was down to the core, the armor modified by Strife, the modified plasma rifle, a scatter gun, side arm and a rifle.

Reik was sharpening his knives by the vehicle, standing watch. The others had gone elsewhere.

Thinking about it too much, now, wouldn't do me any good. So much still unknown. I hoped into the vehicle and spent some time jotting down notes on the punch pad until I couldn't think about it anymore.

Then I headed over to one of the saloons. A little girl with purple hair, some kind of mix of Asian, latin and something else, walked up besides me and asked if I had some money and wanted company.

Sometimes you got pay for the little tenderness you find.
 
*Gunrunner Camp*

As he walked back to the Hummvee, Eric was on alert for anything suspicious. A few shady looking characters glanced at him as he walked by, but nothing in their eyes foretold of any danger.

As Eric walked up to the vehicle depot, he saw that Reik was busy tinkering with his knives. "Thats an M24 SWS. Has an effective range of about 800 meters. Glad to know we can pick off the guys we don't want to mess with up close."

"Well, as I said before, I don't have much armor and I am more of a sniper anyways. Since your not as much of a hardass as the others, you mind giving me a bit more detail of where were heading and what type of unfriendlies we might encounter?"
 
OCC- ok, we are pretty much waiting for Rama and Prudence to get going. SOme folks are probably on vacation so this is a relatively quiet time. Let's see if we can put this section to bed.

ICC-

Reik paused to check the sharp edge of the blade against the callous of his thumb.

"New York, kid. We're going to the big city. That means we got to go into Grey territory, and then we got to deal with whatever we come up with in New York."

"Why NY?" Asked Eric.

"50K credits and that's the starting price." Reik could see that Eric had more questions. "The job? Escort some Green stiffs and some science types down to get something they want."

"And all the heavy artillery...." Eric said, trying to tap the man for info.

"Haven't been to the city have ya? It's not just the locals you got to watch, or the sentry bots, but at night things come out of the sewars that can eat a man whole." Said Reik.

___________

The girl was sweet and enthusiastic, but I kept thinking of Stowe.

In the dark the little purple haired girl changed, and I could almost feel the brown curls of Stowe's hair in my hand. When she folded her legs around my waist to pull me in, I felt Stowe's desire. When she sighed and gasped, I remembered how Stowe would smile with wicked delight.

It was the nature of life in the wastes. With so much of a struggle to survive, with so much killing and dying, the species spent what time it could doing it's biological perogative, propagation.

Which suited me fine. I liked the way she felt when she got on top, how she held me close. I could feel her warmth, the smell of her scent on the sweat of her back. It was a different woman, sure, but in the dark my mind could imagine it.

After we reached our climax she curled up next to me, eager for warmth. I pulled the blanket up close as the cold night air chilled our wet bodies. I could hear her steady breathing as sleep fell over her like a protective cloak. I wondered what she dreamed. Not Stowe, but this girl with me.

I didn't sleep. Not for a long time.

I waited until she was fast asleep and then I moved away and went to the window. Looked outside.

It was late. People were leaving the bars, pairing off to do as I had just did with people more famliar. Some were staggering drunk, others were too drunk to fuck. Looked like a lot of folks were finding ways to escape.

She stirred in the bed, probably feeling the loss of body warmth, and whispered to me in the dark, and I told her, my voice low and comforting, that it was alright.

She asked I return so I did.

In the dark, I felt her small hands on me, tracing the scars that covered me like features on a map. Then I felt her mouth on my skin, soft and tender, until her mouth found my own.
 
OOC: Reik, Dark Corp, hope you don't mind. I want to fit in, so play along...

IC:
Before Reik could answer, a soft female voice echoed from a near by shadow, more of silhouette than of an actual woman.

The faint flicker of the lighter and the fiery tip of a ciagerette gave a brief outline of the figure. Slim and brown, though the brown seemed orange in the shadow due to the lighter.

"If you're all headin' where I think you all are... then take my word... Its all unfriendly. Best you kill everyone... Cause they'll kill you." A grim smiled formed on her lips as she took in a relaxing puff.

Both men looked at her with raised brows. "Oh, and I hope you all got EMP stuff, 'cause the tin-men aren't too friendly." She said, this time dropping the half smoked ciagrette and stomping it under her boot.
 
Although Eric was used to dealing with tough women, their bluntness still would catch him off guard occasionally. However the thought of a new comer wasn't all that bad of an idea. Given the reputation of Scum York, the more protection the better.

"Well I don't have much skill in regards to those fancy high-tech gadgets you all seem to have. I however, will prove to be an invaluable asset as I have no problems with sending a 7.62mm round into something the size of a watermelon at 800 meters. Just think of me as the guy who deals with the shit that you don't want to tangle with upclose."

Eric decided to get back into the hummer and lay down a bit. Apparently, the backseat was more comfortable than he had previously noticed, no doubt from the lack of crowding. As the temperature got colder, Eric pulled out a blanket from his rucksack and covered himself. Fifty degrees wouldn't be much to someone used to the cold, but Chang was a Arizona man all his life. As sleep slowly took a hold of him, the last thought he had was of the beautiful brunette he had seen earlier.
 
Well, they had a suit of power armor all right. Apart from the fact that Jake checked the inside of the helmet for the date of production, he would of thought it was allright. But it was over 140 years old, still had a bit of power, but what use was a bit of power if the thing stiffed you in the middle of a desert? Zilch.
"NO FUCKING WAY!" Bellowed Jake, pissed off.
"I didn't come down here, to give you the whereabouts of my only family from aus, for you blokes to give me a faulty 100 kg piece of SHIT!" Jake said, still pissed off.
"Well, we could trade some weapons for your knowledge then, couldn't we?" The sheila asked.
"No, you couldn't, because let me show you what I have." He started to get out his laser gattler, but the sheila interrupted again.
"We allready know that, but you have no ammo, and you have your plasma rifle, yes, but with only a few dozed cells." She said again.
"Well then I'll trade topside." Jake stopped, smiled, and did a perfect imitation of one of the guards voices he'd heard.
"That allright with you, doll?" And he left her aghast.

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

Topside, Jake looked around. He spotted Reik and some chick talking, so he wandered over.
"Hope you arn't going to hog that piece of ass are you, Reik?"
 
Tapping her cigarette case, she knocked out the last Black death cigarette. "Well, good to meet a man who knows his gifts. So, 'tiger', whose your silent and deadly friend?" The small black cigarette came to fiery life as the blue flame of of a lighter sparked to life and kissed the tip. The inhilation of the relaxing fumes calmed her nerves and eased the demoness within.

Edden had problems but she didn't care much. The world was a terrible place. She was just happy to know she was just as bad.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top