ICC- Lone Wanders Chapter 2

oh the plot twists and turns

OOC- Jacen makes a good point here. But the raiders are not dead, just mostly out of Tabis. The slavers, or what's left of the slavers, are still about and apparently engaged. (Anyway, none of the players are quite complaining).

Atreides - its nice to see you back. We were missing Skik. And yes, there is a plot error that might need a bit of correcting. But then there is the edit function. No worries.
__

ICC-
Skik had brought his small patrol of ghouls up from the basement of a ruined shop that stood next to and overlooked the Elevated. Quietly, they had snuck up, failing to detect any deathclaw, until they had reached a fourth story through a nearly collapsed stairwell.

From that vantage point they had watched the slavers approach.

But Skik had little time to cherish his success. Soon the slavers had turned there guns on the small patrol.

A grenade bounched against the house and fell to the street below where it exploded. Another was better thrown. It went through the window and exploded. The single Ghoul in the room had only a moment to realize the danger before the grenade obliterated all within.

"We lost Harry." Said the ghoul next to Skik. "Damned fine backgammon player."

The other nodded. "We need to get out or they will get us all." This one put his hand in front of the window, and two fingers were promptly shot off.

Skik looked at his two colleagues. They had done all they could. But they could still access the Fort through the sewars and reinforce the defenders there. But they would have to go back, down, through the swamps and could do little else to help in the battle above.

It was then that another ghoul, this one with a shotgun, stumbled up the stairs, gasping. "Deathclaw!.... Below us.... " and stumbled under makeshift shelter of a turned over table the others were using.

The wounded ghoul looked at Skik, "Deathclaw?"

Skik didn't know how to respond. "I guess the deathclaw didn't leave after all."

"But they never bothered us before." said the third.

"We never trespassed on their territory before either" said the newcomer.

And Skik knew it was imperative that he get his little group to the fort. The defenders could use the added firepower and the medical help could no longer be delayed. Those above would have to fend for themselves.

"Ok, we need to fight our way back into the basement and through whatever deathclaw we face." Skik told the others. "Then back into the sewars and to the fort."

_____

OOC- Ok that should bring us back to track. Skik needs to get his tiny group to the Fort, through the deathclaw in the house and, once he gets through the deathclaw, back into the sewars and up through the Fort's basement entrance. Good luck Skik!
 
"Damn!" Skik swore. This was not going as well as he hoped. Grabbing the fallen ghouls microwave pistol he motioned the survivers to the top of the stairs. "But before we go, a little preasent for our slaver friends." Skik took out the bomb (the bomb. The really big one he had down in the sewer the first time.) Set a ten second timer and threw it out the window.
"Joe, throw down a star shell grenade. The bright light plus the noise from the bomb should keep it confused enough for us to blast it." Joe nodded and fired. The ghouls drew their weapons and charged down the stairs.
 
Rogue fired the old hunting rifle, the kickback slamming her shoulder as another round dropped smoothly into the chamber.
The sound of Ferris’s rifle shone through the air as he picked back and dropped another slaver. They were getting harder to target, moving from cover to cover, constantly keeping there heads down from the two markers at the gate.

Rogue prepared to fire again, she took aim only to glare in surprise as her targets fell to the ground.
Ferris turned to face the young girl, "What the hell?" He asked in a state of shock. Then came the large sound of a energy weopon as it impacted in the slavers ranks. Rogue smiled to her self, "Skik, couldn't have timed this better freind." She said aloud.

Ferris looked on through his scopes and watched as a grenade was lobbed into the snipers position. He turned his sights back to the incoming slavers. They done what they can he though to himself. "Good look to them." He whispered.

“90 clicks and closing.” Yelled Ferris before firing again.

Wheeler looked over at the two snipers position, “Well what the hell are you two still doing here then?” He yelled back. “Get the hell to that damn fort; you’re no more use here.” He cried, the large vindicator sprung to life as the cylinder barrels rotated making a high pitch screaming noise.

Rogue stood up, keeping her head down behind the rusty carcase of the old car, she wasn’t about to give no slavers any free shots.
Ferris continued firing, the slavers closing in fast. Rogue grabbed him and pulled him up, “Ferris, we gotta move, we gotta move.”

Dragging him to his feet, they turned to pursue the cart which was now out of sight. Rogue took one last meaning full glance at Kirk and then over to Wheeler.

“Don’t worry about us Girl, just get that boy to the fort, now move your asses.” He yelled glaring at the two.

Rogue yanked a grenade from a torn pocket, snapping the pin back she lobbed it in the slavers direction, detonating on the oncoming slavers. Debris was thrown to the sky sending shrapnel in all directions.
The shouts of slavers could be heard from the impact sight, but were silenced as an explosion came nearly parralel to that of Rogues but only bigger. The white flash lit the sky as the thundering thud thrembled the ground.
Kirk glanced over his position, “behah.” He chuckled looking at the damage inflicted on the slavers numbers.

Rogue, helping the young fighter, moveing in the direction after the rest of the group. Her rifle now no use against the new threats that lurked in the old derelict houses, Rogue wielded the large flamer, swinging the heavy weapon from side to side.

“Oh crap, this aint good” she whispered to Ferris who was trying to cover there left flank from any incoming Claws.

The slavers front was now near upon the gate, unaware of Wheeler who was hidden as was Kirk. All they new is that the god damn snipers had ceased firing which allowed them a much faster approach.

Not but 10 meters from the gate, a large portion of the slavers advanced, Kirk could see maybe 7 or 8 as forward men. The body or the slaver party were following maybe another 40-50 meters behind them still using the cover of old cars and crippled metal objects that be-laid the Elevated.

Wheeler, ready to start the Vindicator up once again and blow some slaver ass away, signalled to Kirk to be ready.
He closed his eyed, prayed to the lord he wouldn’t be touched.

Kirk looked over the scrap metal he was crouched behind and peered at the slavers near the gate. “Fuck this isn’t going to work.” He spat

Remembering the confusion inflicted by Rogues grenade, he pulled his own from a small pouch and grinned lightly to him self.
He yanked the pin from his grenade and launched it with what strength he had. The grenade volleyed over the heads of the unsuspecting slavers and dropped to the floor behind them with an echo. Turning, the slavers were knocked back as the grenade self detonated sending a mass of flames and metal carnage 20 feet in the air.

Using the distraction implemented by Kirk, Wheeler stepped from his position and let the vindicator do the rest. The heavy gun howled as it flew into action. The slavers having barely enough time to react to the new threat never mind return fire were ploughed to the ground, shredded by the awesome display of fire power from the vindicator.

Wheeler threw him self behind the pillar, barley dodging shots from the main slavers group. They were pissed, There comrades shot down, they were going to stop at nothing till they got revenge.

Wheeler, charging the weapon up again felt it vibrate under his sweaty grip and the sweet squealing sound as the gun became ready.

Diving from his position once again, he let fly another large burst before ducking behind a shattered car body.

Kirk jumped to his feet, his turn to play. Throwing two grenades to the slavers position followed by some smokers, he used his momentum to make a final dive to cover before the rain of fire fell upon him. The rood became smoke filled mixed with the flying debris and fire from the grenades.

Wheeler let fly a third burst from the Vindicator into the smoked filled area to sway any attempts at coming through.

“That should hold the bastards till the smoke clears, they won’t risk it when they know we are waiting.” Wheeler puffed.

“Now what do we do?” Kirk came back.

“Make a run for the fort.” Wheeler replied seriously.
“What...what about those damn deathclaws? This place is fucking swarming with em.” Kirk showing his dislike at the idea.

“It’s either that or we stay here with deathclwas behind us and Slavers in front. You got any of those grenades left?” Wheeler asked.

“Fresh out.” Kirk came back.

“Shit, I’m low on rounds for the vindicator, we stay here were dead anyway. The smoke won’t hold them forever.”

Kirk sighed, passing his hands through what greasy short hair he had left, “Ok, let’s do this.” He said climbing to his feet.

The two men, back to back started off down the road. Moving quickly but carefully through the streets. A small breeze whispered through the abandoned buildings.
Eyes watched the two men making their way through the tattered street, waiting for the right moment to make a move, Deathclaws were smart enough to realise what the gun could do after having witnessed first hand its destructive power.

The silence wasn’t right Wheeler thought to himself.

“What the hell is happe...?” He didn’t get chance to finish the sentence.
The two men were mortified as from a still in-tact window came the shattering sound as a deathclaw burst through the glass claws first. Wheeler unable to react fast enough was brought to the ground as the creature tore through his armour ripping flesh as it went past knocking both men to the ground.

Kirk turned and levelled his rifle, setting it to burst he let rip, sending the deathclaw darting in to a building, howling as the shots impacted. Wheeler scrambled to his feet only to be met by the snarls of another charging killing machine. He levelled the Vindicator and slammed the trigger back, the deathclaw screamed as the rounds impacted, tearing through the heavy hide sending the hunter to the ground.

Wheeler froze as the sound of the vindicator changed tone to a chilling empty sound. He looked on in disbelief as the guns barrels slowed to a stop. Kirks mouth dropped in horror at the sight; He checked his own mag, only a few shots left.

He unloaded what rounds he had left with a pittyfull shout as the deathclaw reappeared from within the building, almost aware they were out of rounds. His attempt in vain as the Claw charged him straight down tearing at him with shear might. Wheeler jumped back as he watched the animal shred the Guardsmen.
Snarls from behind forced him to jump in fear as another deathclaw appeared from in the buildings. Wheeler screaming at the top of his might unloaded his six shooter at the creature only to be silenced as sharp claws crippled him to the ground. He fell next to the limp body of Kirk.

The fighter closed his eyes as the deathclaws moved in for the kill and the inevitable happened.


Rogue and Ferris turned in fright at the blood curdling screams that came from just behind them and then silence. They had listened to the fight and the sound of the vindicator.

Ferris lowered his head in dismay; he knew wheeler and Kirk were no more.
Rogue hoisted the young man, “Nothing can be done, they died to save our lives, lets not let there bravery go to waste and get the fuck out of here.” She said in a commanding voice.

They two turned and moved forward, they looked up in harshness as the sound of mass gunfire came from up a head.

“Fuck.” Ferris shouted.

They started running, Farris doing the best he could moving fast ignoring the pain from his wound.

The two could see Yacobs group up ahead, Flamers were rageing spitting flames in every direction, shots from all sides flowed through the air as Deathclaws came from the surrounding buildings in a display of pure might.
 
The battle continues

Skik and his three colleagues had barely gone down one floor when they heard a WHOOOSH sound and an explosion. The force of the blast rocked the building, knocking the ghouls to the floor and filling the air with debries.

"They have a rocket launcher" said the one with two less fingers.

"They are going to hit this floor next" Said the other.

"But the deathclaws are below." exclaimed the young one.

Funking Humies, thought Skik. "Down quickly!" The young one leading with the shotgun, then Skik and then the two others. Down the stairs. The small group had barely gotten half way down, when the next floor disintergrated in fierce blast. The concussion rocked the group on the stairwell, shaking them all down. The last of their number had not yet cleared the floor when he was caught in the concussion of the blast, disintergrating the ghoul.

The younger ghoul lost his balance, dropped the shotgun, and tipped over the guardrail, and down into the stairwell. His body hit the bottom with a thud. Skik looked over, but already deathclaw and swarmed over the body, ripping off arms and legs, while the ghoul screamed and screamed.

Skik looked at his single suriving comrade, but neither ghoul spoke. Both knew the Deathclaw would soon be climbing the stairs. They had to reach the sewars now, or their mission would have failed.

_________

In the street, Rogue, pulling at Ferris' body.

"Wheeler... Kirk.... " The young borderman muttered.

"Forget 'em, they're dead." Said Rogue, struggling.

Ahead of them they could see the rest of the group blasting and burning their way forward.

"You won't make it carrying me. Better to leave me behind." Said Ferris.

"Cut that crap out, will ya." Said Rogue, impatiently.
______

Ibis was beginning to have doubts about his visions. On either side the men burned at the buildings. The plan was simple, burn a wall on either side of them to keep the Deathclaw back, while the group forged ahead. To long a stop or delay would be suicide.

They had heard the blood chilling cries of the Bordermen as the deathclaw took them. That was behind, they could only go forward.

Yacob and Horus at the lead. Yacob filling a Deathclaw with shot, and Horus burning the beast with his flamer. Strange but it seemed that both men were enjoying themselves. Perhaps it had been too long since either man had seen much action.

He peered back. Far behind, he could see to figures, one obviously wounded and the other helping him along, struggling to catch up.

"Come on!" He yelled back.

The wounded guard was behind him, reloading Flamers with extra fuel, while trying to hold off any Deathclaw that came from behind.

To the left a guard was lighting a building afire.

To the right.... the guard had vanished. He had been there a moment ago, his flamer torching a building. The man had been taken, without a sound.

"Horus!" Ibis called, "The right!"

Horus turned back, noted the man had gone missing. He moved back to take the position.

Yacob, noticing his brother missing, also noted the lost man. "Tighten it up! Tighten it up! Watch for targets!" He yelled Trying to fill the hole in the moving perimeter around the cart.

A momentary delay. Perhaps it was enough for the others to catch up.

They were almost there. Around a block and they would be entering the park.

______

In the fort the garrison held. The bloodraged beast outside the gate had paused. Indeed there was no sound anymore, no scratching, no eating.

The sentinels on the Fort watched the progress. Burning buildings had marked the arrival of the rescuers. And the sound of gunfire.

Gabriel nudged Caleb, "What do you think?"

"Something scared them, even if momentarily."

Both men took positions on the edge, hoping that their fire might help their would be rescue.

"Prepare the door" Caleb called, "I think we can expect some help."

On the first floor, both cops wondered why the assault on the door had stopped.

Neither were aware of the deathclaw that was tunneling under the wall, on the far side of the building.

_


Further away, the police sergeant watched as the police force grew. Further down the Elevated he could hear the sound of the battle.

From the Elevated a small group of Slavers were bringing back one of their wounded in a makeshift stretcher.

"What do you think? " Asked the police corporal.

"Kill 'em" Said the sergeant.

"They're wounded."

"They're vermin." the sergeant corrected. "Allow no one to return."

A staccatto of shotgun blasts and the slavers were no more.
_______

Ok, that's a bit of plot development. Hope it helps.
 
Gabriel turned to other end of the building. Something had alerted him but he couldn't quite work out what it was. He crossed the open roof and looked down but the floor next to the building was obstructed by creepers which had grown impressively, sticking out at least a couple of feet.

The assassin shrugged. A noise probably just meant another Deathclaw was snuffling around the building looking for another entrance. Good luck, he thought. Then he returned to his firing position.

Leaning on the wall, he rested his new acquisition on the rough stone. A few more scratches weren't going to hurt the heavy piece of machinery. The ancient Thompson looked old. There was little rust. Though not cared for, the armoury had been dry and most of the weapons were still in reasonable condition.

Gabriel removed the clip and examined the big .45 slug resting atop its 29 comrades. These might not have the penetration of a hunting rifle but Gabriel was pretty sure a deathclaw would't appreciate getting hosed by the weapon. He knew a good shot to the head should put a deathclaw down. The bullets were full metal jackets which should give them enough penetration to get through one of the beasts' skulls and then the heavy round would finish the job, blowing apart the brain.

Competent but not an expert with firearms, Gabriel felt uneasy. He had never faced a foe he thought could beat him. Humans were so fragile, so easy to break. Deathclaws just took punishment until you couldn't dish it out anymore. Even now, the memory of the hand to hand struggle left him shocked. How had he been so stupid to take them on out there.

It was an odd moment. He felt both powerless and more proud of his abilities than ever before.

He just hoped they would be enough.

"You okay, boy?" Caleb's gravelly voice comforted the assassin. Gabriel had seen the gunfighter's skill with the big Winchester rifle and that brought a little solace. This would be a hard fight, but Gabriel knew he had the right person beside him.

"Fine. Just checking my gear." he smiled, still concealing his nagging fear. One trait which had got him recommended for the Nightblade division was his emotionless image.

He stayed true to his word and drew both his pistols from his weapon harness, slid the clips out and checked their actions.

"Fancy sidearms." commented Caleb.

"They used to be standard US military issue, so we have huge stockpiles." he rammed the clips back in and holstered one, sighting down the barrel of the other. "Course they've been modified for my...special requirements." Caleb looked at the silencer and extended barrel.

I'm standing up here with one of the coldest killers I've ever met. A goddamn assassin. Life is endlessly capable of surpirses, thought Caleb.

The Blade turned his critical gaze on Gabriel's choice of long-gun.

"You should have got something with a longer range."

"I'm not much of a sniper. You handle the distance work and I'll spray any that get close."

Caleb nodded. The assassin knew his limits and he knew what he was doing. The Blade was still reluctant to trust Gabriel, his coldness and lack of emotion was unsettling but Caleb couldn't help but give some grudging respect. While the fightings going on i can trust him, that takes care of one worry. That leaves deathclaws and two cops. Why the fuck does this shit always end up at my door, wondered the calm gunfighter.

Caleb thought he heard a dull thud coming from below but it quickly drowned out by the sound of the big deathclaw out front, again slamming his bulk against the slowly collapsing door. The broked masonry below stopped him getting a clear shot.

Damn, he thought. We can't let anymore get to the door where they are protected from our fire. He could see them the beasts massing in the shadows in the trees.

Why now? Why did it all start now? He looked over at Gabriel who was thinking the same thing.

"I can't shoot him." Caleb indicated the beast trying to break down the door. Gabriel nodded and fished a grenade from his pocket. Caleb smiled slightly. Good thinking lad.

Gabriel moved to the edge and lifted the grenade, ready to pull the pin. The Deathclaw below stopped his thundering attack, and Gabriel again heard that strange scratching, thumping noise. Dull but just audible, like something big moving underground. The assassin's eyes widened in horrified realisation. Gabriel turned and ran toward the stairs, dropping the unarmed grenade.

Then a loud splintering crashing noise erupted from below, inside the fort and both men heard the terrified screams.
 
The group continued the systematic burning as they treaded on. The large old Fort stood alone like a warrior in the mist of a battle field. There was little distance to go before they would enter the final path of passing through the park.

Yacob continued on, his younger brother Horus no longer at his side as the young man had taken up the position of the lost guard.

“Keep burning, watch for any sudden movement.” Shouted Yacob, he had nearly made it, he wasn’t about to lose control now.

The small delay that had occurred when the Border Patrol guard had disappeared, probably by Deathclaw cause had allowed Rogue to catch up with the slow moving group. Ferris was now perched on the back or the cart behind Ibis. His rifle was ready, he was acting as a lookout from him small vantage point.
Scanning the surrounding buildings, he searched for any sigh of movement. Using the scopes from his rifle, he was also able to see some distance to the park. Everything looked quite. No signs of deathclaws, only the burnt out carcases of a battle long fought.

“What do ya see boy?” Asked Ibis, intent on knowing what lay in wait ahead.

“Nothing.” Ferris whispered as though to himself rather than to Ibis, almost in disbelief. He passed the scope to Ibis who scanned the park as the young man had done.

“Do you see anything weird, anything abnormal?” Ferris asked waiting on the old mans reply

“Nope, nothing. Looks fine to me.” Ibis replied passing the scope back to Farris.

That’s just it Farris thought, if this was deathclaw country and a group were holding out in the fort with wounded, Wouldn’t there be deathclaws fighting each other to get in the place? Something wasn’t right.

Rogue moved up and took her place next to Yacob and readied her flamer in case of any sudden movements upon her position.

“Where’s Wheeler and Kirk.” He asked, almost as though he new what Rogue was going to say, he just needed to hear it for himself as confirmation.

“They didn’t make it; there plan on the slavers worked good. We had the unexpected help of an old friend who made it a little easier.” She replied lightly to Yacob.

The old badge bowed his head in grief. He had known Wheeler for some time and was a good friend. What he had done would not be forgotten, he would see to that himself.

“We’ll raise a glass to them when this is over.” He said to Rogue. She nodded in agreement. They deserved to be honoured for their acts.

Pushing the thoughts from her mind, Rogue concentrated on the task at hind. Now wasn’t the time to grieve, that would come later, now it was time for action. Time to get the others and get their asses of out this death trap.

Horus looked at the building directly facing him; He swore that he had noticed the slight movement of something maybe two structures back, now he was sure. What ever it was, it was trying to pass them, get in front to where the wall of fire ceased.

“Deathclaws, my side heading up front.” He shouted, getting the attention of nearly everyone in the group.

Rogue looked behind, “Shit.” She cursed realising for the first time Horus was behind her. The girl readied the flamer, and moved a few paces back, allowing enough room for movement in the case of a sudden attack.

“We got another coming up from behind on this side.” Ferris shouted to the troop.

Yacob glimpsed behind to see Farris pointing vigorously towards were he had seen the deathclaw. Turning to Rogue, “Looks like this is it, there coming in from the front, that’s us.” He said grinning. He was enjoying this, the adrenaline rushing through his veins, waiting for the heat of battle to commence. It was like being a young badge again on a raider bust.

Rogue smiled, not sure what the hell to do. She hated this up close crap; give me a target from 500 yards any day she thought. It was one thing to engage in close combat with another fighter, it was another to engage in close combat with half a ton of pure muscle killing machine.

Horus spotted another pass through the shadows; this one moved around the back of their position and was the first to come into view. The beast exited the abandoned structure and as fast as lighting, made a complete dash towards the border patrol guard who was covering the back of the cart

The guard let out a lick of flames at the incoming beast, sending it snarling to the ground but dependently not stopping the powerhouse. The guard readied another burst as the creature came again. This time the flamer wasn’t as forgiving and torched the deathclaw as it attacked leaving it crisp and smoking.

The guard turned and puffed a sigh of relief...and then they came.

The two deathclaws which had made their way to the front, hidden by the fire and surrounding buildings showed their ugly faces. From each side they attacked.
Rogue slung the flamer into action, letting the burst of fire spray the claw as it pounced; the ferocity of the flames dismayed the deathclaw in its tracks, forcing the animal back. Rogue dived backwards as the creature returned back behind the wall of fire.

Yacob fired consecutive bursts from the combat shotgun on his incoming attacker. The gun bounced as the shells exited the barrel towards their huge target. The creature didn’t stop its attack, hardly distracted by the shots, its adrenaline rush attack continued in full force.
The mass of muscles kept coming; Yacob on it’s killing list. He stared death down, levelled his shotgun and let out another burst of shells into the oncoming creatures face as it grew closer.
The deathclaw bellowed loudly in anger, the creatures face nearly torn off by the buckshot, yet it continued its momentum as it stumbled to the ground. Yacob slid sideways in a desperate attempt to miss the creature’s final swing of fate, but not fast enough. The old badge felt the extraordinary pain flow through his arm as he hit the ground.

Horus heard the shout of his older brother, but distracted with his own problems was unable to come to his aide.

Hours flung his flamer at the incoming deathclaw, letting a burst of super heated fire cover the creature’s body head to toe, the sound of shots from behind him sang as the group came under attack from more deathclaws. His target snarled as it dived backwards, pain from the blanket of fire that was wrapped around it overwhelming the creatures primitive mind dropping it to the ground.

Ferris peering from the wagon fired two shots into the cranium of Yacob’s aggressor. This beast kicked as its body shut down and nerves made their final move, before he turned to face another deathclaw coming from behind. The guard readied his flamer; this one wasn’t even going to get close.

Rogue stared into the wall of fire; her hunter was still in there, watching with content. Then it made its move, from the flames it came, only to be met by more heat as Rogue levelled the flamer and fried the creature. Rogue throwing her weight to the ground to avoid being crushed by the deathclaw as it fell to the crunching to the dirt.

5 deathclaws dead, yet still they came.

The screams from a border guard filled the air as a deathclaw practically picked him up high, inserting its long bloodied claws into the guard’s midsection before he got a chance to fire, he was dragged away through the wall of fire as his comrades made desperate attempts to save the poor mans life. Ferris cursed aloud, he reloaded his rifle and fired again at the retreating creature but with little use. Through the flames he noticed more deathclaws rush to the kill.

Yacob seeing the sickening view, pulled him self to his feet, noticing that the group had come to a still halt in order to defend against the monsters attacks. This was no use. There could be another 50 deathclaws out there. They couldn’t fight them all, they would have to make it to the fort in order to live another day.

“Move” he shouted to Ibis, “get the cart moving....get you’re fucking asses moving; you want to die here people?” He screamed using the full capacity that his lungs would allow.

Horus followed suite yelling to what was left of the border patrol to get the hell into the cart.

Ibis didn’t need telling twice, he whipped the reins of the harness sending the already startled bulls in to a panic gallop. The border guards did what they could jumping to catch the fast moving ride; Horus followed only just reaching the cart in time. Yacob and Rogue climbed aboard next to Ibis as he lashed the bulls to go faster.

The deathclaws, partially distracted by there fresh kill darted through the flame wall. They watched as there meals speeded towards the fort leaving a trail of dust kicked up in the air.
Ferris looked back in horror as the creatures took per suite. 4...now 5, they were coming in numbers from within the buildings...6, they kept coming.
Horus felt around in his pockets, the grenades...he turned to Rogue, “You still got those grenades?” He asked. Yea replied Rogue pulling three from within her long coat.
Yacob looked at the two and remembered the grenade launched wrapped around his side.
Horus smiled and his brother smiled back. Rogue looked at the two, they were enjoying this ride with death just a little two much.

OOC- Ok, the escape may have seemed a little far fetched but it was the best i could come up with. Sorry :). They also took little damage in the fight, but there is still some distance to go, and a fight to get into the fort is still yet to come. This could be the final battle with unsuspected casualty's
 
Neil and Paul's Dirtnap

IC-

Paul stared intently at the collapsing doors in front of him. The assault rifle in his sweating hands was nearly forgotten. The young cop was only aware of every miniscule detail of the door; each splinter shaved off and each timber cracking. Their final bastion against the deathclaws was collapsing.

“Hail Mary fulla grace,” began Paul, feverishly muttering a prayer. His fingers tightened on the rifle and he periodically shifted in place. Unbeknownst to the cop, Paul was now crying in earnest. He did not want to die.

Neil, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. At the first side of the collapsing door, he had dropped the two shotguns. Instead, he brought up the Garand and levered up its safety. The deathclaws were breaking through but Neil was ready for them. The sergeant had been in many similar skirmishes, having been a member of a SWAT team. Only now, it was the enemy who was storming the building.

Paul was still praying. “The Lord is with thee,” he whispered anxiously, kissing the crucifix around his neck.

Neil didn’t know Paul was a Catholic. He supposed if there was any time to believe in a god, it was now with Death at their doorstep. The sergeant placed a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Easy, son. We’re going to make it.”

Paul ignored him. “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

Neil shrugged and let his partner pray. Whatever got him ready to fight. The Japanese kamikaze would get snookered up on drink before a charge and, hell, it worked didn’t it? Neil wasn’t like that, though. He was always ready for a fight. The level of pent up readiness had cost him, giving him ulcers and premature whit hair. It was a reasonable trade, in Neil’s mind.

The door was crashing open slowly now, partly revealing a deathclaw arm. Neil looked around him, watching the last of their defenses piled up around them. The barricades wouldn’t hold against a deathclaw.

Paul stared up at the door in horror, his hands unclasping and his prayer paused. “Oh God, oh God, oh God!” he chanted instead. His jaw worked about in disbelief and he had enough common sense to pick up the Kalashnikov.

“I don’t think I’m going to make it,” Paul said in a weak voice, his eyes transfixed on the collapsing door. “I want you to take care of my wife and kids if I take a dirtnap.”

Neil almost leisurely rested the Garand on a desk. “What makes you think that I’ll make it?” he asked, just slightly curious.

“Because your Blue Boy One,” Paul responded and then he was silent.

The silence resonated, occasionally broken by claw swipes against the door. It lasted for a full five minutes. Then, the doors finally collapsed and the deathclaw came.

It was but one deathclaw bull. It stood silently, fringed in front of the door, as if it was majestically posing for its prey. Its triangular head tilted about, its glowing red eyes searching about as its muzzle sniffed for prey. The deathclaw’s hide was riddled with bullet indentations. It was bleeding from fragments from a frag grenade, earlier thrown by Gabriel. It was not enough however. The deathclaw was not only hungry but also incensed by its injuries.

Amazingly, it was Paul who snapped out of the reverie first. He stood up from under the desk and placed the Kalashnikov next to his hip. “I ain’t dying today, you son of a bitch!” he screamed. Then he slammed down on the trigger, unloading thirty rounds from the fully automatic.

The deathclaw took three steps into the fort before meeting the bullets. They riddled its body, causing it to shake and stutter as if it was being electrocuted. In a feeble attempt, the deathclaw bull careened its head forward to its chest and protectively wrapped its arms over it.

“Ha-ha! How do you like that?” Paul screamed victoriously. And the bullets kept flying.

But Neil saw that it was not going to be enough. The deathclaw was a smart old bastard. It was protecting its most vulnerable part, using its hide to take the brunt of the attack. It was waiting for the bullets to stop for its moment of attack.

Neil joined Paul’s fire, taking care to actually aim. He sighted down the bull’s neck and fired. The deathclaw flinched, shrugging the blow off. Licking his lips, Neil fired at the same spot, unloading two more shots. The bull cried out, an agonizing shriek that almost broke eardrums, but it did not raise its arms like Neil had intended.

Then Paul’s rifle was empty and the bullets stopped. The clip fell out of the chamber and landed onto the ground with a resounding ring. The bell tolls for thee, thought Neil crazily.

Paul turned to Neil. “Oh shit, Neil. We’re dead.”

Then the deathclaw raised its own head, lowering its bloody arms wearily. It looked at Paul with glowing red eyes, baring its teeth and roaring. Neil could have sworn that its roar sounded disturbingly like a chuckle.

The deathclaw ambled forward, pushing over the blocking furniture with its long arms. Paul dropped the assault rifle and went for his two Desert Eagles while Neil gave him cover. The sergeant fired away the five remaining rounds in quick succession. But it did little good for the deathclaw merely stopped in its track for one second and then ambled forward again. Neil dropped his own rifle and brought up the two shotguns.

The deathclaw paused five feet away from the two cops and Paul immediately unloaded the two pistols. Eighteen rounds of .50 American Express slammed into the deathclaw, pitching it onto the ground and sliding it across the floor, leaving a smear of blood. It grunted once and then remained still.

Neil’s face lit up. “You did it, Paul, you did it!” He shook his head in wonder.

Paul’s cherubic face glowed in sweat, strangely looking majestic. “Yeah,” he said after a minute. “I did it.” The Desert Eagles dropped from out of his limp hands.

The two cops were about to get up when, to their horror, the deathclaw beat them to it and rose from its grave. The bull stood up and wavered in place like a drunk. It pawed its chest and came away with blood. The deathclaw snorted in rage before leaping high into the air.

Paul’s head snapped upwards, watching the deathclaw clear the five feet of barricades in a single bound. “Fuck,” he managed in a disbelieving voice. Then the deathclaw landed on him.

The young cop was thrown onto his back, the deathclaw pining his feet from underneath it. Neil acted quickly, jutting both shotguns against the deathclaw’s back. But before he could pull the trigger, the bull merely backhanded the sergeant across the face and Neil went flying, hitting his head against the wall. Then the deathclaw turned back to Paul.

Paul shook his head repeatedly. Either the deathclaw couldn’t understand the gesture or it disregarded it. It raised its claws and plunged them into Paul’s stomach, ripping out the entrails. Paul shuddered in convulsions, the air suddenly knocked out of him. He looked down at his opened gullet and stared in horror as the deathclaw began feeding upon his entrails. The world felt suddenly cold and Paul died in death’s icy embrace.

Neil woke up from his blackout, shaking his head to clear his vision. He turned around to see the deathclaw feasting on his partner. Revulsion, fear, and rage mingled in his heart. “You bastard!” he shouted to deathclaw. “You killed him, you killed Paul. Oh, you bastard!” Neil got up and found his shotgun.

The deathclaw, its claws still dipped into Paul’s gullet, turned around to face the open bore of the shotgun. A roar began rattling in its throat but Neil pulled the trigger. The deathclaw’s roar turned into a scream as buckshot slammed into its face, blinding it.

Neil bared his teeth as he pumped the shotgun and fired another round into the deathclaw’s chest. It roared as the steel balls of buckshot showered against its hide. Some of the buckshot imbedded into its skin but most of them bounced off and rattled onto the floor.

The deathclaw swiped its claws blindly in front of it. Neil merely kept unloading the shotgun, each time earning a cry from the deathclaw. Yeah he was slowly killing it, but it would die. For Paul’s sake, the deathclaw would die.

As he staved off the behemoth with the shotgun, a thousand thoughts came to him. Neil wondered what would happen to poor Paul’s wife and kids if he died. He desperately wondered if Frank Wachowski would get the letter in his pocket, even if he died. He asked himself if the slavers had been finally dealt with. He prayed over the fate of his little town, his entire life’s work. And most of all, he wondered if the Blade and assassin would survive if this deathclaw got passed him.

He was the last vanguard against the deathclaw. He had to finish it. Neil pumped the last shell into the shotgun and took a step closer to the deathclaw until he was just an inch away from it. As he pulled the trigger, the deathclaw simultaneously swiped its claws at Neil.

The buckshot flew from the barrel and shattered the deathclaw’s face into mush. At the same time, the headless corpse still possessed enough control and power to aim a claw slash across Neil’s own face. The force was enough to decapitate the sergeant of Tabis.

The two headless corpses, Neil’s and the deathclaw’s, fell onto the floor of the fortress at the same time. Neil landed poetically next to Paul, the two cops sharing the same grave.

On the floor of the fortress, two good cops of Tabis lay dead. They would only be missed by their family and fellow cops. Tabis would go on, if it survived, never minding Neil and Paul’s sacrifice.

And the battle outside the fortress went on.
 
Into the graveyard-

OOC- This is going to be really short and I am going to let the rest of you finish off this part of the batte. Atriedes still can write Skik's escape into the sewars and into the bottom of the house (remember there is a tunnel that links the basement of the fort to the sewars- an entrance or exit that is too narrow for a deathclaw to get through. Gunslinger and Reaper are doing fine with the inside the fort and Rogue has the final part of the escape. Looks pretty good so far!

_____

ICC-

Ibis whipped at the old Brahma into a fury as he gave a silent prayer. Never had he made the old bulls run so fast or so far, and he wasn't sure if the old cart would hold up to the strain. But he could practically hear the deathclaw in pursuit and the survivors of this rescue try to fight the deatclaw off.

The cart creaked and bounced, and the bulls snorted.

Ibis whipped them on. "Run damn you, Run!"

The Brahma needed little urging. The smell of deathclaw, the violence around them, had stirred the normally timid beasts into a panic. Ibis was doing all he could to keep the animals under control.

So many dead. Wheeler and Kirk, and Ferris wounded. Now Yacob had been hit hard, he was moving on adrenaline alone. Two of the caravan guards had been picked off. They had started with 10 men.

Now Rogue and Horus and a guard, whom Ibis didn't know, were the only two that were otherwise unharmed. Yacob and Ferris were both wounded.

And their lives were in the hands of a tired old man, who had bad nightmares, and his two old Brahma bulls that were scared out their wits.

The last building past, and the cart raced through the gateway into the Park. The once green fields were marred by so many shallow stone graves. The once beautiful trees had been sheared away into stumps and skeletons. Even the playground was a twisted and beaten ghost of its former self.

The cart bounced over the graves. Ibis, silently praying that the cart would not come apart. In the 4 years since he had last ventured in these parts,deatclaw had grown more numerous and fierce, but the old fort remained.

Around the fort Ibis could see the bodies of recent deathclaw, most of which had already been ravaged by their hungry brothers. The sound and fury of the battle might have scared some off, but it was unlike deathclaw to leave a corpse half-eaten.

Only one double door, and an improvised graveyard, seperated the small survivors from the sanctuary. But Ibis could see no one on the ramparts. Maybe there was no one left to let them in.
_____

On the bridge the slavers, moving on foot, had reached the gate. They had lost nearly half their number, and many were sporting fresh wounds.

But these were survivors, hard men attracted to the business for both profit and blood. Revenge had brought them to this party, and they had come heavy.

More than a few of the slavers carried armor, much of it recently acquired from raiders who joined their ranks after the gangs had been broken. In addition to small arms, they carried an assortment of heavier weapons: machineguns, flamers, rocket launchers, even a plasma rifle.

If they had not realized it when they had been sent on this fool's quest, few doubted the real reason they were here.

They had been sent to die.

Either at the hands of their adversary, or the tooth of the deathclaw, or from the bullet of the police rifles, it didn't matter.
Like those they chased, they could not go back.

And they were angry.

The anger made them strong, and it made them brave.

So when the last of the slavers emerged through the smoke and ruin of the bridge gate, they came hungry. They were prepared for the deathclaw that charged at them, and there was much bloodletting.

_____

OOC- Ok, A couple of suggestions.
(1) just about everyone except the main characters seem expendable. Main characters include Ibis. Either Yacob or Horus can be whacked, but it might be wise to keep one or both of them alive.
(2) It might be wise to keep some slavers alive as they may offer a clue to Chapter 3.

As I see it, the next stage is getting everyone through the gate (this should include the brahman and the cart (if you want to use that to escape- remember you are carrying wounded). The slavers will probably want to get into the fort too, as this is the only chance they have of surviving (perhaps they might offer a truce of sorts). And the deatclaw will probably make things tough on all parties.

Skik is still in route. Might he bring Wally or others? Remember there is an alternative route out (basement access).

Most of all, have fun.
 
OOC- Okay, it looks like its boiling down to the end of Chapter 2. I've killed off Neil and Paul, partly involved the slavers with the original plot to take over Tabis, and given Caleb incentive to get to Gray Cliffs (save the remaining Blades). Basically, I've tied up loose ends. I agree that we should keep some of the slavers alive, maybe on or two scrags to tell of how the group made it out.
 
OOC:

In my post Gabriel did not throw the grenade and the loud noise I described at the end was the deathclaw Welsh had mentioned tunneling under the wall, breaking through the floor, not the deathclaw out front busting down the door. Hence the screams from Paul and Neil - I would not expect them to scream if a deathclaw came through the door as they had prepared for that eventuality.


Ne'er mind. I'll roll with the punches.

We'll just hold the fort.
 
OOC- This post doesn't finish the fight. That will come a little later. I would like to wait for either Reaper of Gunslinger to post so that i can coincide the final push with their being attacked but if this isn't possible then i'll continue.
I'll also try and write part of the raiders struggle now.

IC-

Yacob pulled the stocky gun up to his shoulder and placed an already swollen hand around the grip of the grenade launcher.
Peering down the small metal sights, he took aim about 5 feet in front of the crazed deathclaws that were gaining on the cart.

Ibis did what he could to steady the raging bulls to allow Yacob the most accurate shot he could get yet still maintain some speed.

Beads of sweat trickled down the old badges temple as he tried not to think about the excruciating pain that filled his mind. The old man slowly squeezed the rusty metal trigger allowing the gun to fire.
Yacob gritted his teeth hard as the but of the weapon slammed his shoulder causing the already intolerable pain to increase ten fold.

The grenade sawed through the air like a rocket, the group watched as it sailed towards the rushing beast that followed them so very close.
The small mortar like grenade slammed to the ground. Detonating on impact, the deathclaws following in the central position disappeared under a blanket of dust and debris.

Yacob knocked back the grenade launcher allowing Horus to slide another grenade in for his elder brother.

Ferris laid stomach down, his sights once again back on the deadly rifle.
He watched the deathclaws eventually exit the smoke, two less in number and another immensely lacking behind the rest. The creature bleeding from one side but determined to keep going as it grunted while running behind it's frenzied brothers.

The sharp noise of Rogue's rifle filled the air as the young girl let of 2 consecutive rounds, followed by Ferris, who with the scope attached was able to pull of precision shots on the pursuers.

The first shot merely caused the front deathclaw to flinch as the round caused minimum damage but the second more carefully placed by the young kid, hit the creature dead central in its intended location. The leg of the burly claw gave way as the round practically demolished its right knee at the joint sending the beast crashing into the dust.

Yacob took aim once again, steadying him self the best he could, he let the grenade fly. His shot, knocked off course by a sudden jutter of the cart, impacted on the buildings to the left flank sending rubble in all directions.

“Grenades, use the grenades as they pass through near the gates.” He insisted, reloading his weapon.
Yacob signalled to Ibis to slow his course, they would kill these perusing beasts right here in a trap of there own.

Taking two grenades each, Rogue and Horus readied for the incoming deathclaws.
Each porting an incendiary and frag grenade, they waited till their targets were nothing more than a matter of meters from the gates. Here the deathclaws would be forced to come together due to the small like gap produced by the park gates. The perfect place to stop these primitive creatures in there tracks.

The joint pinging rang out as pins from the grandes hit the floor. Throwing the incendiary explosives first, they rolled to a stop, almost perfectly timed as the deathclaws past through the large grills.
The group were forced to cover there eyes as the immense light filled the area from the explosions. Even in daylight the flash was still enough to temporely blind any unpretected eye's, followed by the dry heat as napalm covered everything in the area including the confused deathclaws.

Two of the creatures managed to make it through, there speed to great as they escaped the blast area caused by the grenades.

“Shit.” Hissed Ferris as the creatures approached, he started to knock back rounds along with the last border guard at the incoming danger.

Horus along with Rogue, lobbed the frag grenades on the mass of fire to finish anything that may have survived the first blast, then taking their positions at the front of the cart, they prepared to meet the last two deathclaws charging them down.

Ferris joint with the guard continued to lets rounds fly as the creatures neared.

Almost on top of them, Rogue readied her flamer along side Horus.

“Wait.” Horus whispered, Rogue was twitching with the trigger mechanism, waiting for the deathclaws to get close enough wasn’t the most calming thing to do she thought as the muscle ripped beasts sped to wards them.

Ferris, managing to get one last shot off at such a close range, he’s precision aim nothing worse than perfect as it struck the faster of the two deathclaws dead square in the temple blowing brain fragments out through the back of the deathclaws triangular head.. The creature dropped to the ground limply as its limbs froze.

“Now...” Ibis yelled.

The final attacker was met by a mass of carnage. Flames bore down on the creature as its upper body was riddled with rounds from Yacob and the guard.
Even a deathclaw in all its might wouldn’t have been able to survive such a display of fire power. The creature, its limbs partially blown off and wrapped in flames fell to the ground just meters before it would have reached Horus or Rogue.

The young girl breathed a sigh of relief as the deathclaw's scraping body came to a halt at her feet.
The sickening smell of charred skin and hair filled the air.

Horus laughed loudly in a deep voice. “Deathclaws, they aren’t good for nothing.” He Wheezed.

Rogue gave the huge man an irritated glance followed by a slight smile. She didn’t know weather to laugh or cry.

“Don’t get too cushy just yet, we may have dealt with them easy, but were a long way from being out of the woods yet.” Yacobs voice trailed off as he turned to face the Fort that lay up ahead.

Rogue turned to face the large familiar structure, she hadn’t realised how far they'd come running from the other creatures.
The young girl's stomach churned once again as she noticed the charred body’s of numeros deathclaw's. I pray they are still alive she begged to her self.

“Don’t worry young Rogue,” Ibis said looking out into the park, “There still alive yet." It was as though he could feel Rogues concern for her comrades.

Ibis, was starting to intrigue Rogue, partially because he had known her most greatly valued secret.
Rogue and she alone knew what her first name was, not even the caravan guards she had spent much time with travelling knew of this. Yet Ibis called her by Laura as though he had known her from the day she was born.

The other reason, the other chilling reason was his knowledge of it, that thing that persuade Rogue over the years. The very thing that had re-turned in the sewers.
Rogue didn’t believe in mind reading or in petty prophesies but this was something different, something very real.

Taking up what formation they could with the what men they had left, the group moved on. Little danger from behind, it was now the danger that lay hidden in front they would have to worry about.
 
Gunfire and angry shouts greeted Caleb and Gabriel as the darted down the stairs. Both men saw the shredded remains of the younger cop and they watched, helplessly as the deathclaw, with its dying strength, ripped the Sergeant's head from his shoulders.

"Motherfucker." whispered Gabriel, surprising Caleb with the rare show of emotion.

Gabriel didn't care about the men, he was angry that he had failed to protect them, despite having no real connection. They were two brave comrades who would not be here for the final battle. That angered the assassin.

He walked toward the fallen policemen and looked down at their bleeding forms. No sadness, no fear, no remorse, just angry regret.

"Damn. That beast was strong. He busted that door by himself. I figured we'd have a little time till enough ganged up." said the gunfighter, glancing out the open door into the dim morning light.

"So did I." Gabriel's voice was flat. The cops' deaths heralded further tragedy. Without the door to hold them back, the Deathclaws would swarm in and overwhelm the two exhausted defenders. "We were wrong."

Standing at the rear of the room, examining Paul's dropped weapon, Caleb looked up at Gabriel. The assassin was silhouetted against the dawn showing through ruined doorway, his Thompson hanging casually from his hand.

Caleb found it hard to reconcile his feelings of pity for the young man. He shouldn't have to see this, he thought, but Caleb knew Gabriel had caused worse suffering than this. He had that look. The eyes, colder the Sierra mountain water. Caleb knew because he had the same look. Only age separated the two men. Caleb realised that now. Different causes, sure but it takes a certain type of man to do what they did. To do it all their lives and never run from it.

They were killers.

"We need to knock that door back together, now son. Before those bastards work out they've breached the defences." Caleb stepped forward but was hurled back as the floor erupted.

The deathclaw that surged from the ground like a demon from hell, roared a battle cry and swiped at the gunfighter, but Caleb was already moving. Rolling away from the hulking beast and drawing his revolvers.

Gabriel lifted his rifle but the deathclaw was faster, swinging round and lashing out at the assassin. Gabriel pulled the trigger and four rounds hit the deathclaw in the stomach before its claw smacked him in the chest, backhanding him across the room. A curved talon snagged the sling on the Thompson, ripping it from Gabriel's grasp as he flew away into the wall.

Caleb opened fire, distracting the beast. The heavy slugs tore into its back but he tough hide absorbed almost all the damage. A low grunting sound was the only clue it felt the bullets at all. The monster ignored the gunfire and advanced on the fallen assassin, who tried to roll away but his wound had opened up and he merely growled, suppressing his pain with anger. The monster stood over him and bent forward, stretching out a clawed hand.

"Eat this, you shit-breathing motherfucker!" cried Caleb as he rammed his pistols against the creatures exposed groin and fired, letting loose two hollow-point .45s. The deathclaw reared up, screaming in agony. It nearly fell, shock and pain, rocking its body.

Splattered with deathclaw genitalia, Gabriel pulled both his Berettas and aimed at the monster's writhing head. Calling out to get its attention, the assassin fired into its staring eyes,

"Time to die!" he hissed, unloading the two fifteen round clips.

The deathclaw tottered back on its still functioning legs, operating on nervous activity that hadn't realised the brain was dead.

Remembering Neil's unlucky end, Caleb raised Vindicator and fired. The bullet slammed into the dead, staggering monster and knocking it the bloodstained floor, were it landed with a thunderous crash.

"They'll be coming now. Get ready." Caleb knelt in the doorway, levelling his rifle.

Gabriel nodded, rising to his feet. Retrieving his Thompson, he joined the Blade at the doorway.

"Die fighting." said the assassin.

"Only way for our kind to go, lad." replied Caleb.

Gabriel smiled.
 
meanwhile at Yacob's an attempt on Fantasia

MEANWHILE-

Kooz crept quiet as a whisper to the door, listening for any sounds, careful to allow for no creaks.

Behind him the tall dark man watched, impatient. This was the last bit of business before leaving. The girl had to go.

Kooz bent near the door and listened for a long time. Inside he could hear the sounds of regular breathing. The girl was asleep.

He looked back at the tall dark man and nodded. She was there.

The tall dark man nodded, Get it done.

Kooz gave the thumbs up. I'm ready.

The tall dark man drew a finger across his neck. Kill her.

Kooz gave an exaggerated wink. OK.

The tall dark man held up his hands in exasperation. For Fucks sake just do the damned thing you lousey piece of shit.

The message was clear. So Kooz nodded again.

And the tall dark man thought how nice it would be to kill Kooz.

Kooz worked the lock open with a long thin blade until he felt the lock release and heard the locking mechanism give. The door knob gave. And slowly he openned the door to let himself in.

The door was open but a crack, the hall filled with shadows behind him, and Kooz eased himself through, and disappeared into the room.

Years of theft had honned Kooz's skills, but nothing could mask the slight odor his body gave off in his work, or could mask the sound of the locking mechanism. It was more than enough.

THe dark man heard Kooz, exclaim "What...." and then he heard the screams, which were suddenly cut off in mid scream as Cerebus tore through the man's windpipe. Then the only screams were the fearful ones of Fantasia, who could hear but not see the carnage that Cerebus was inflicting.

The sound stirred up the Yacob's wife Anna and her two cousins that were visiting while Yacob was elsewhere. When they reached the second floor landing to check of Fantasia, they would find Cerebus finishing the man, formerly known as Kooz, but would have found no traces of the Darkman. He had vanished as if into thin air.
 
OOC- hope this is ok. You said you would like some slavers to live and maybe have to work with the group to get out. Well this might help the plot abit. As for the Deathclaw fight. I have to say that i'm stuck. I don't know what to write. I've allready dont to deathclaw fights and the last one to me seemed a little draggy when i wrote it. I need somthing new. But i just can't think of it.

IC-

“He’s bleeding badly.” one said, “It can’t be stopped with out the necessary medical equipment."

“We have to go back, get the hell out of here.” Said another slaver, putting forward his view.

“We can’t go back, you heard the fucking shots. There’s probably a whole army of cops up there.”

“Yea, well I ain’t going through this death trap. Look at this for shit sake.” The slaver pointed at the remains of Wheeler and Kirk. Very little remained after the deathclaws had finished with their bodies. “There’s no way I’m fucking going out like that.” Hailed the slaver, his anger taking over.

“No, we go on, were gonna kill these fucks.”

“Kill them, damn it, look at what’s left of them two and that’s only a matter of meters from the gate. The rest are properly already dead or will be soon. Fuck it, I say leave them for the deathclaws.”

“Yea.” The majority of the slavers were seeming to agree with the hard speakers almost talking for the entire slaver group.

A large dark like figure stood up in the centre of the massed body of men.

“And if you don’t mind me asking then, seeing as though you know what’s best, what would you say we do? Sit here till these bastards come for us. Or did you forget in your moment of power and glory that were surrounded.” Silence struck the air. Nobody seemed to have an answer to that one.

“As I thought.” The authority voice sniggered coldly at the dead silence among his men.

“We go forward. Why? Because we have no fucking choice. Were certain to die both ways, at least this way we may get a chance to take those hauling fucks with us.”

The large slaver stood tall amidst the others and looked over his fellow slavers, “Now move out, were not dead yet. Anybody who doesn’t wanna move with us then by all means sit in this hole till something comes for you. Either way, I don’t give a fuck.”
The slaver head slung the heavy assault rifle over his shoulder and moved through the gates, he stopped next to the rebellious slaver who had spoken against him.

“Nice speech but you fucking undermine my authority again and you’ll beg for those deathclaws to kill you.” He snarled at the slaver as he walked past.

Jeeva laughed deeply to himself. He loved the look of fear in his men when he used that one. “Damn fucking spineless excuses for slavers.” He hissed to his right hand man. Topaz just smiled in acknowledgment not wanting to say anything against his boss.

“They don’t make em like us anymore.” Joked the smaller slaver with a grin.

“Aye, ya can say that again.” Jeeva replied letting out a smile. Topaz was one of the best right hand men he’d had in a long time and showed good potential as a higher authority among the other slavers.

Jeeva had long been within the slavers midst for a long time and was a well known figure through out different encampments for his ability to organise and command new meat. He wasn’t an old man, maybe in his mid 30’s but his features would say otherwise. The long scar that drew down the right hand side of his face among with the other cuts that covered his dark burnt complexion told tales of great battles.

Standing tall, he reached past 6 foot and was an imposing figure when face to face with. The finley weaved armour with his guides emblem embeded on the shoulders sowed sign of his commanding status as a head slaver.

He had always been loyal to the slavers guide which he was part of. However the recent unexplained change in power through out their encampment left him with new superiors. One’s he hadn’t trusted from day one. He wouldn’t say it in front of his own men but he had been deceived into this whole affair. Their original job was to get what they wanted from Tabis if they finished what the raiders started. But now, their roles as slavers kicked to the dirt as they were made into mear puppets.

From what Jeeva had heard, the new power amongst his camp weren’t the sort of people to cross. A fine slaver commander which he had known well and surved under in his early days was rumoured to have been killed because of some dispute on policies over this whole Tabis thing. The letter he had received was threatening enough and explained what would happen if he were to disobey their orders or even fail.

Now, he and his men had been sent on a death mission to kill people which they didn’t even know. Jeeva, like many slavers that used to be, was a man that believed in the old rules. You come for the meat and that only. Don’t get involved with other things and stick to the job. He didn’t like what was happening to the guide, it had change vastly. The new power didn’t even seem to care about slavers. They just wanted them as more foot soldiers, expendable meat.

Jeeva spat in disgust at the thought of what was happening. There was no way he was dying today; the deceit of the new power would not go un-reckoned. Not when they were to blame for the loss of his fellow slavers just as much as the fucks they were dying for to find.

“Right you bastards, were going to get through this shit, no matter what. Then were gonna drink like there’s no tomorrow.” Jeeva shouted as he looked over his quivering men.
A large cheer went up at the thought of booze.

“Fuck it, we’ll even open up some of my own hard stuff.” This recieving an even greater cheer followed by hoots, Jeeva’s stash was well known of amongst the men.
“Now get ready, wipe that shit scared look from your faces and let’s move out.” He bellowed. The natural commanding skills kicking in.

“Remember, were the only people who need to live, so if something fucking moves, Kill it.” The large slaver said coldly.

With the his fellow slavers moral slightly lifted, they were ready to storm there way through this deathcaw nest or die trying.”

Moving out slowly, Jeeva with the help of Topaz arranged the troops into a formation that would most likely be able to defend against any famous sudden Deathclaw attacks in which nobody would see a thing until half the men at the back had been taken. Jeeva knew the story’s all too well as wasn't going to have it happen to him.
Using the heavy weapons as the main line, surrounding the group wielding smaller arms that had the job of finishing the creatures with shots odered pacifically at the eyes and head. Jeeva who had ditched the assault rifle for his beloved plasma rifle took the front of the section.

The pace rate was excruciatingly slow; up ahead the site of a battle ground could be seen. Fire was burning contently, smokeing away in the abandoned buildings.

"This could be good.” He whispered to Topaz, who was walking beside his commander, "they came under heavy attack up ahead. This could mean one of two things.” He went on.

“Either the deathclaws killed them which would mean there will be a swarm of the beasts up ahead or they made it out alive and the deathclaws are either dead or followed them.” Topaz said finishing the sentence before his commander.

Jeeva laughed, “Aye, let’s hope it’s the second.”
Topaz would make a good commander some day. He almost reminded Jeeva of himself when he was but a young right hand man. His commander had taught him well. Jeeva spat again, anger in his veins. His commander had been the only father figure the fighter had known. However he had been killed for some unkown reason. Who ever this was, they would pay dearly for all of this.

The slavers moved on, approaching the battle zone. Deathclaws or no deathclaws they were ready.

OOC- Well, maybe that might help a little. I have some revision to do AGAIN but hopefully i'll be able to post again. *Crosses fingures and hopes to hell*.
 
The sewere entrance leading to the fort poped up. Skik stuck his head out.
"Didja miss me?"
OOC: Havn't got any time now. I will post the rest of Skik's and Wally's arrival in a few hours.
 
At the Fort

OOC- Not bad Rogue. Thanks for moving the story along.

IIC-

Meanwhile at the Fort-

With the sight of the fallen door, Rogue and her companions lost heart. To have come through so much only to find that they were to late.

Ferris and the remaining guard looked over the battlefield around the fort, at the dead deathclaw, many of which were still smouldering.

Yacob and his brother, dismounted from the cart, hobbled over, Horus becoming increasingly concerned with his older brother's wound. Both men moving cautiously, expecting to find deathclaws feasting on the corpses of their dead friends.

Rogue whispered to herself, "Gabriel, Caleb, Grim....."

Ibis, over heard her. "No." he said sharply. "They aren't dead. Not yet." He urged his bulls on towards the gate.

"Blade. Don't shoot. We bring help!" Called in Ibis. Already he was urging the bulls forward.

There was a pause and then a response.

"Who goes there?" Called back a voice that Rogue recognized as Caleb.

"Friends. No stop fucking around. Make space. I need to bring my car in and you have to get that door up." And then Ibis moved the car into the building, calling back. "Come on, they need help here before the deatclaw and slavers get here."

Both brothers entered the Fort next. There was a laugh from Yacob and then Horus, and Rogue could no longer control herself and ran into the Fort.

The sight of what she saw stopped her. So much blood. The deathclaw, dead. How had they gotten into the fort? Caleb and Gabriel both covered with dried blood. Were they wounded? ANd Grim.

Many questions, but little time to ask them.

Already Ibis was off the cart and moving, struggling with the weight of his medical supplies.

"Blade, you and I must palaver. Gabriel too. All of us. But right now your friend the bountyhunter walks on the edge of this world and the next, and we need to pull him in."

The old man's orders stopped both of the warriors, who had spent so much time and energy over the issue of leadership. Neither reacted quickly, if not from surprise then exhaustion.

But was Gabriel who spoke. "He's here, in this room."

Ibis, seeing the body quickly got to work. "Rogue, come over and help me. Let these others mend the door. Bring in Yacob, Ferris and that guard, whatever the hell your name is. I have to look at you too." Then to the others. "But first help with the door."

The other men moved towards the door and quickly made to repair the frame. While doing so Horus and Yacob briefed Caleb and Grim about the fight through deathclaw country and the slavers that followed.

No one could explain the mysterious absence of the deathclaw.

Ibis instructed Rogue how to clean up before operating, while he scrubbed his hands and prepared himself. When he was ready, he gently removed the bandages.

"Ah he's bled to much and too long. Any more movement and we'll lose him. We'll need to keep him stable for at least the rest of the day, and probably the night."

Gabriel looked over at Caleb. It was only morning still and the small group of companions would have to hold up for another full day.

They worked quickly to mend the damage to the floor and to the door. Once up, the men felt reasonably sure, they might be able to hold out in this Fort, at least a little longer.

Over the din of their hammering they could hear gunfire of assorted weapons, the roars of many deathclaws, and the terrified screams of the wounded and dieing slavers. There was a fierce battle somewhere in Wainright, and it was moving in their direction.
 
IC-

“Arrrrhhhh...die bitch.” Jeeva hissed, repeatedly firing the heated plasma rifle on the incoming deathclaw. Energy rounds battered the creature burning its outer hide. The claw made a chilling spiteful noise as it collapsed to the ground.

Topaz smacked against his commanders back, the recoil of the light support weapon too much for the small built slaver to control as the heavy weapon fired in fast recession. The rounds impacted against the beasts that slashed at the slavers outer circle.

Jeeva barely had enough time to even reload the plasma rifle before his next opponent took him in its demonic red sight’s and charged at speed. The blur of the deathclaw rushed towards the commander’s position in a rage filled attack.

The plasma rifle humming once again, flares of scorching aluminous green plasma exited the gun, locked and on route towards its target. Snarls of pain echoed in the air as the plasma impacted on the deathclaw’s thick skin. A lucky shot from Jeeva sent the creature limply to the ground as pain filled its primitive mind. The plasma burning in its eyes as the green substance melted away at the beasts face. The pain only too much even for this power house of an animal.

Turning to help Topaz in the struggle for survival, he viewed first hand the heat of a battle like no other. Even Jeeva with all his experience in combat and his many battles had never witnessed such an immense sight of pure carnage.
The group had been besieges by at least 7 deathclaws, not to mention those that Jeeva had just sent on a dirt nap.

On the flour were already the body’s of his fellow slavers. Torn limb from limb by the immense beasts, they mealy had enough time to level there defence before the deathclaws were upon them.

Jeeva was mesmerized by the attack. "How the hell could this have happened?" he cursed to himself.
The sounds of guns blazing from what was left of the slavers group was enough to bring him back to reality. Two slavers still alive and kicking in the fight unloaded their light support weapons on the charging deathclaws. Others were dropping back before turning and firing at the incoming creatures.

Topaz was still eagerly unloading the old M60 into any deathclaw that was in sight and range. The sound of the rusty weapon rattled out as rounds tore through the nearest deathclaw at high velocity riddling the creature with smoking holes.

Jeeva’s mind moving back into gear, he brought the plasma rifle up and levelled it at a deathclaw feasting on one of his comrades, Letting out a war cry, Jeeva let hell lose along side his right hand man.

The sound of an explosive rocket shattered in the air as a slaver wielding an old version of the rocket launcher fired in too the buildings where deathclaws had dragged slavers still screaming to their deaths.
The building buckled as the rocket destroyed all support and foundations in a thundering noise sending the target and surrounding buildings crushing down on the creature’s heads.

The slaver dropped another rocket into the tube and took aim only to be caught unaware from a quick back attack. The rocket launcher dropped to the groud and miss fired on its own accord as the weapon hit the deck. The missile sent chaos flowing as it impacted into the left side of the battle obliterating both slavers and deathclaws down that side.

“Oh fuck...Oh mother fucker.” Topaz yelled not believing what just happened. The poor rookie shaken by the harshness of the battle, fiddled franticly with the rounds, trying desperately to feed them into his M60.

“Oh shit its Jammed... its jammed.” He shouted dropping the weapon and pulling out a 9mm. Unsure what the hell to do with such a small weapon against such huge creatures, he unloaded the first clip blindly in any direction.

Jeeva continued to fire on the feasting deathclaw, inevitably getting the mass of muscles attention as the plasma burnt through its thick hide. The deathclaw turned in a despicable way to face its attacker.
Un-swayed however by the regards of the enormous bull, Jeeva dropped to one knee and grited his teeth pleasurably as the plasma rifle kicked back and super heated rounds ripped through the deathclaws stomach and knocking it backwards to the ground.

Two slavers dived down to where Jeeva and Topaz where positioned. One nursing a blood covered arm as he slid to a stop.

“Sir, there everywhere. More are coming from up the back, We...we left them eating.”

“How many of us are left.” Jeeva yelled as two more slavers dashed over to them.
The gunners as they were known. Two brothers un-separable from each others presence who always wielded heavy fire power. In this instance they were the only two with mini guns and by hell were they smoking.

“Is this it?” Topaz asked looking around as if expecting more slavers to appear.

“Guess so.” Jeeva replied not wanting to admit it.

“All those men, gone in one attack.” Topaz’s voice sounded weak.

“Ok, we’ve managed to stay in this cursed world for yet a little bit longer but we won’t survive another attack. Said Jeeva. “There’s a fort up ahead right? Not too far into the park.”

Topaz nodded, he had spent some time in Tabis not long ago and knew the layout of the town. It was one of reasons that he had been picked for the job.

“Ok, we make a run for it. We keep running till we get to that fucking fort and remember, that damn beer is just waiting to be sipped, I don’t plan on leaving it now.” Jeeva smiled.
How the hell in the midst of all this he was able to smile was behind the others but it seemed to helped.

Jeeva taking the lead, the six slavers set of at the fastest pace they could. The gates were not far up ahead and the fort could be seen in the short distance.
Canning any pains that the fighters may have had, they concentrated solely on reaching the fort.

However running wasn’t the best of ideas for deathclaws are after all the barren world’s most toned and dangerous predator's and the sight of a running prey was overwhelming and just too irresistable.
The on looking deathclaw exited the building making high pitched noises that rang through the background as it gained speed in it’s pursuit of the fleeing slavers.

Metcalf, one of the gunners was the first to notice the perusing creature.

“Oh fuck.” He gasped, trying not to stumble. The other slavers managed a glimpse as they ran but wished they hadn’t. The deathclaw chasing them was fast, oh so very fast.

“Move.” Hissed Jeeva pulling Topaz up to pace with him. “Move your fucking ass or I’ll shoot you my self.”

Topaz not doubting his commander’s words sucked it up and managed to increase his speed.

The sound of the chase only brought unwanted attention from more of the primal hunters as another joined into the per suite along side it’s brother.
It was a race against time, the fort not far ahead and the Claws not far behind.

Topaz couldn’t run any faster, exhausted, the slight loss of concentration from fear sent the second in command to the ground. He screamed in fear as he hit the dusty hard ground only too aware of what fate lay in wait if he didn’t get up and fast.

Jeeva slid to a halt, turning to look; the deathclaws weren't far off the kid’s position. Reversing his momentum, “Cover fire,” he bellowed as he changed course. Determined he wasn’t going to let this kid die here, he grabbed Topaz's arm and dragged him up. Shoving the slaver forward with what strength he could muster, they once again started towards the fort wit deathclaws hard on their heels and gaining fast.

Shots zipping past and over their heads as the other slavers lade down what cover they could with little rounds left. Using Mini guns was out of the question, the risk of hitting the their cheif was too great.
Jeeva dragged Topaz along making sure he didn’t fall again, the creatures biting at there feet wouldn’t allow a second chance.

“Move it out.” Jeeva yelled, his men turned to set off just in front of him, legging it with all the energy they had left.

The fort was so close, but not close enough. They didn’t think of what may lay in wait in front of them, only concentrating on going forward to escape the dangers behind until a deathclaw tore out from the debris in front. They creature had been laid, waiting just till the slavers passed it by.
Using its speed and ripping talons, the deathclaw nearly instantly killed the last man.
Metcalf yelled out in despair as his brother was ripped from behind him.
Stopping and levelling the mini gun, The gunner unloaded what rounds he had left at the deathclaw killing his brother.

“Bastard..,ARRRGGG.” His war cry rang out loud.

Met... come on, he’s dead.” But Jeeva’s words didn’t register with the slaver. He just stood there and drew a long gleaming knife from its sheathe.

“Fuck it, let’s go.” Yelled Topaz, “Leave him.”

Jeeva turned and ran, he didn’t look back, none of them did as they heard the death cry of Metcalf as the deathclaws took him. The slavers kept moving the last yards to the fort which seemed to take so very long.

The death of the gunners seemed to have ceased the pursuit of the creatures as they had something to feed upon. It wouldn’t last forever Jeeva thought, praying there was some way into the fort or this would be the last few moment of his life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top