ICC- Lone Wanders Chapter 2

OOC- Sorry about not posting latly. Seems i have been consumed by revsion.

IC-

“Right.” Skik replied signalling to Gabriel, “We should get moving now if we hope to get back before night fall." replied the ghoul.

Gabriel looked over Jeeva as he moved up to Skik’s side. He wasn’t happy at the thought of Slavers being here and was even less happy at the thought of leaving them alone with the others.

Jeeva turned to Skik, “You sure you don’t need anymore help, carrying things I mean?” Skik just waved off the idea, we’ll be just fine, you just concentrate on holding down the fort slaver.”

Skik and Gabriel headed for the manhole that lead back down to the depths of darkness.

They passed Caleb who was still stood by Grims bed. “Were gonna go and get some supply’s to last us through the night in this dump.” Said Gabriel as the Blade turned face the two.
Skik smiled before continuing down the old musty hallway to where the entrance to the sewers was located.
Gabriel looked on at the lone gunslinger, he stood looking at Grim, “You gonna be all right?” Gabriel asked in a quite tone.

“Don’t worry about me Kid, you just get those supply’s back here as soon as possible, and watch yoour ass." Caleb replied as turing his watch back to Grim.

Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment to the blades words, turning down the hall; he followed Skik’s footsteps.
Skik was perched on the rim of the entrance that led down, “You ready?”

Gabriel looked down into the pitch-black darkness of the familiar sewers. The unforgettable smell of sewage and decay rose up through the air. The heavy foul smell made the night blade cringe as he inhaled the odours.

“Back into the shit once again.” Gabriel sighed to himself. At least he wouldn’t have a problem with light down here.

The two disappeared down into the darkened maze of tunnels that lay below.

……………

Jeeva walked over to where Topaz was sat, The slaver fiddling contently with the large plasma rifle.

“You know, if I could just get hold of some equipment, you’d be able to control the plasma emissions when firing. It could save a whole load of energy yet still keep the force and power.”

Jeeva laughed deeply at his second in command. Always tinkering with weapons.

“So, what do you think so far?” asked Topaz.

Jeeva, giving a tired sigh, slumped down next to the smaller slaver with a huff.

Jeeva shrugged, “Well, maybe if we can make it through the night, there injured can be move by morning which means we can get out of this hell bent place.”

“What about the Blade and the others? How can we be so sure there not just gonna kill us when we get out, huh?” Topaz asked looking over to Ferris and the two brothers.
Ferris returned the glance and shifted nervously where he was sat.
Horus and his elder brother sat talking in low tones whilst Rogue watched the slavers chatter and whisper amongst them selves.

“We can’t.” Jeeva replied, “We have to trust them, there the only way were gonna get out of this mess.” his voice portraying an air of concern.

Jeeva was a man who could naturally take control of a situation; he liked to know what was happening.
He despised situations where he was forced to rely on outsiders for help, not knowing what to do. But worst of all, it was the fact that his men looked to him for command and leadership and at this point, he didn’t know how to deliver.

Jeeva broke his mind lapse as Ox and Fury approached and took a seat next to their commander.

“Sir we’ve been talking and.” Ox stuttered. Fury bumped up to Ox's side elbowing the large slaver in the ribs causing him to winch.

“What Ox is trying to say sir, was that well, we’ve been kept in the darkness about all of this and about what was happening back at the slaver camps.”

Jeeva rubbed his tired filled eyes with a scrunched up fist. This was one of the moments has wasn’t looking forward to.
His troops had suspicions on what was going on, they all did. Nothing had been the same since this entire Tabis matter broke out and a new power had taken control of the slaver ranks.

Ox knelt down to where Jeeva was sat, “Who is this dark person that you been going on about, who the hell is in command amongst the slavers?”

OOC- Eeeeq...i got to go, my lesson starts soon. Sorry about this. I trhough i would have had more time to continue.
 
The two figures moved swiftly through the dank sewers. Following the sure-footed ghoul, Gabriel danced around the piles of muck and dodged foul rodents, which Skik kicked aside without thinking. The assassin barely managed to keep pace with the bulldozing ghoul, who just powered his way through any obstacle the sewer saw fit to place in his way. Gabriel was glad he had the ghoul to guide him. Despite his confidence in his sense of direction and incredible vision, he was certain he would have been old and grey by the time he found a way out had been forced to brave the subterranean labyrinth alone.

"Where will be surface?" whispered Gabriel. Skik, a few steps ahead of him stopped and glared back at the young man.

No patience. Humies are impatient enough but their young were damn near intolerable.

"Near the Police Station." he replied.

"What?!" hissed the assassin.

"There will still be commotion and no one is looking for you or anyone from the fort inside the town. They think we are all trapped like rats." he tapped his leathery, decayed nose, "They don't know us ghoul ways too well." he chuckled. He made to move off but paused. "What are you worried about anyways? If you're such a good spy and all, they won't know what you look like. You ain't nothin' to worry about... unless there something you forgotten to tell me?"

Gabriel stared back at the waiting ghoul. The assassin disliked ghouls. It was nothing personal or malicious. It was just that looking at them reminded him of physical impairment. He lived by his fitness and agility. His body was his whole life. It allowed him to do the only thing he and ever been good at. He killed people with close range weapons or his bare hands. The decayed physique of ghouls served as a horrific, exaggerated picture of age and decrepitude. Something the assassin feared far more than any opponent, human or otherwise.

"I have to go back to the water treatment facility." Said Gabriel, ignoring Skik's question. "My equipment is there. I'll need it if I'm going to ... meet the police chief."

Skik nodded. There was more to the boy than met the eye and like all people like that, they weren't anxious for anybody to go digging beneath the surface. The ghoul didn't care about the assassin. As long as he helped out Caleb and Rogue and Grim, his friends, Skik would watch out for him but that did not mean he liked or trusted the young human.

The pair moved off toward Tabis' centre.


Skik lifted the manhole cover, impressing Gabriel with his strength. It gave him pause for thought. Muscles didn’t have to be massive and bulky to be powerful.

“Human, I can get some ammo from my over-ground stash but I need to figure where we collect some Flamer fuel.” Skik was obviously less at home topside. He was still confident but the surety of his step and his words was less now. “You need to get some food for the others. This ain’t personal or nothin’, you getting the food I mean. It’s just I got the connections to get the other things while you know where the market is and that’s all you need to know.”

Gabriel nodded, annoyed at the lack of trust, but agreeing with Skik’s logic. Food he could get. His assignment in Tabis was too recent for him to have made contact with the major players in town and get any contacts. Besides, that wasn’t his job. He was an observer, not a mole.

“Okay human.” Said Skik. “Find the food and bring it back here.” He pointed to the building across the street. “Safehouse.” The door could not be seen from the Police entrance so it should be reasonably safe. The cops wouldn’t suspect anything going down in their backyard. “Meet back here with the supplies and your ‘equipment’. I should have got most of the other things we need and when I get back, I’ll give you what info I can on Wachowski, the Head Pig. Crooked motherfucker.”

Gabriel nodded again, taciturn as always. Then he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Creepy murderer, thought Skik.
 
The Revelation

IC-

Jeeva was silent. This conversation was bound to happen. Holding onto the reigns of leadership and leading ignorant followers would not last long. It would work with brahmin, but not humans.

Ox sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, ashamed to have even brought up the question. Fury, however, had her arms folded stubbornly and she glowered defiantly back at Jeeva. There would be no sidestepping around that bitch.

“So what do you say, chief?” asked Fury. “You gunna tell us who we’re working for?” There was aggression dripping in her voice. Mutiny in her eyes.

Jeeva put on a creaseless, blank expression. It made him look somewhat dimwitted but it served its purpose of making him seem impassive. He carefully shrugged just one shoulder, a carefully practiced movement he had honed. The half-shrug immediately dismissed whatever the topic of the conversation was. “What do you care?” rejoined Jeeva. “You’re getting paid, and that’s all that matters.”

Ox immediately accepted this. Jeeva could effortlessly lead on the brutish slaver; he was named Ox for a reason. He lowered his head with a half-disappointed grunt and turned to leave. But Fury stopped him, grabbing onto his arm.

“Hold it there, big boy,” she warned. “Don’tcha wanna know who this darkman is?”

Ox didn’t look like he did, in fact. He regarded Jeeva with mournful, helpless eyes. But he stopped anyways. He shrugged with a hey-what-can-I-do expression.

Fury turned on Jeeva. Her hand was suspiciously close to her gun belt and Jeeva decided to emulate her. Ox looked at both raiders and his eyebrows furrowed with worry. “You’ve been leading us on like donkeys, Jeeva,” Fury said in angry tones. The demoralizing deathclaw attack had shown its effects. “And, shame on us, we followed you, too, boss. You made us go with a carrot tied to a stick and we went.”

Things were looking ugly. Jeeva’s lack of control over his men meant bad news for him. Slavers were like dogs; they will jump on their leader at any sign of weakness. The verbal joust he was having with Fury was as deadly as a duel.

“I didn’t make you follow me, Fury. No one held a gun up to your head.” Sweat poured out of Jeeva’s pores.

The woman barked laughter. “They might as well have, boss. The money is not the only reason I went along. You know perfectly well that I would have end up dead if I didn’t come along. Isn’t that right, boss?”

She was right. Sure, the slavers were paid for their services. But the slavers were a gang, and majority rules the gang. Anyone who went against majority rule would end up dead.

Jeeva was silent, neither affirming nor disagreeing to Fury’s statement.

The woman shook her head, smiling. She already knew the answer. But she still had questions. Fury stepped up closer to Jeeva. The slaver leader could smell the sweat and hostility rising from her.

“You led us with promises of loot. But now that carrot is gone. You can’t spend your loot when you’re dead. And that’s what this entire enterprise is leading us to. It was doomed since the start, boss, and we’re all going to die for it.”

Ox was looking even more uncomfortable now. He looked bashfully at Jeeva, as if he was apologizing for his partner. But Jeeva could see the doubt in his eyes and the beginning thoughts of subversion.

Fury stepped back, relenting. Some of the anger in her eyes died down. “But I don’t think you meant for us to die,” she said uncertainly. “You’re a smart man, Jeeva, even if you don’t show it. So what’s the deal?”

Jeeva stared down Fury. The audacity of the woman was unsettling and made him rethink his game plan. Before now, he had shared the burden of responsibility. Now, someone was demanding some of the load.

He sighed, a sharp sound of finality. He would have to start trusting his men, as they had trusted him until now. Jeeva couldn’t keep them in the dark anymore. “There’s not much I can tell you,” he murmured reluctantly. “I’m in the same boat as you.”

“But you know something,” she inquired anxiously, leaping on anything.

Jeeva nodded. “Yeah, just a little bit. Most of the orders come from higher up, from the head slavers. I only hear what I hear when I keep my ears to the door.”

“So spill it,” demanded Fury. “Who’s the darkman? We’ve got a right to know.”

Scoffing, he said, “No you don’t. I don’t even have the right to know. But I’ll tell you anyways.” Jeeva sat down on top of a desk and Ox and Fury followed suit. The slavers were mostly alone in the hall, with hardly anyone listening.

“So you who’s the darkman, hmm?” began Jeeva. “That’s a pretty damn good question. One I’ve been asking myself for a long time.”

“Stop beating behind the bush and tell us already,” Fury cried with a scowl. Even Ox had leaned in closer with anxiety.

Jeeva shrugged his half-shrug. “I don’t really know, myself. All my information is mostly rumors. But I do know that he’s the one responsible for taking over the Slaver’s Guild.”

Fury sat back suddenly. “What?!” she shrieked in disbelief.

Jeeva chuckled but the laughter sounded mournful instead of amused. “You didn’t know? Not even after the leaders started disappearing?”

The woman shook her head numbly and Jeeva nodded agreeably. “Yeah, not many of us figured it out at first. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll start at the beginning.”

And he told them.

He told them of how the darkman, accompanied by a vanguard of raiders, had shown up to the slaver’s camp so many month’s ago. It was an audacious and foolish thing to just show up on the doorsteps of slaver’s camp, even with an accompaniment of guards. The traditional reaction would have been to enslave the lot of them. And the slavers’ troubles would have ceased right there. But the darkman had come with a business proposition and the leaders had agreed to answer.

Jeeva had been there when the darkman and the leaders palavered at the campfire. The darkman had been sent by an “organization” wishing for the slaver’s cooperation. He did not tell who his leaders were; he was but an agent delivering an offer. And the offer had been ripe. All the slavers had to do was join in the attack against Tabis and the cities population would be there’s. The raider clans had already accepted a similar offer. They would bear the brunt of the attack while the slavers would come later and pick up the remains like carrion birds.

And the slaver leaders had accepted, seeing the amassed force of raiders. It was best if they joined the stronger side earlier on. Cash was exchanged and allegiances were made. The darkman had left with the slavers’ agreement of cooperation, but he had actually left with a signed lease to their souls.

Later, as the date of the attack approached, the darkman had begun sending “reinforcements” to the slavers. But they had actually been replacements. Subtly, the heart of the Slaver’s Guild was taken over. Soon, only a few original members remained and all of the original slaver leaders had been either killed or ousted. Several new leaders were raised to power, but they had suspicious help. Some of the slavers muttered but the rest remained with desperate loyalty. Jeeva was one of them.

Soon the attack came. The slavers had been told everything had been going according to plan. They did not know that Tabis still remained free and that the raiders had been held back by just a few. The slavers became more suspicious when the “organization” had them secure the borders around Tabis instead of directly attacking it.

Apparently, the “organization” was having trouble against Tabis. Discreetly, they spearheaded a commando team to get into Tabis and take out a group of fighters that had faulted their plans. Jeeva had been elected leader of this commando group of slavers, an almost literal army.

But now, Jeeva knew that it was a doomed plan all along. This “organization” was just mere cannon fodder to test Tabis’s limits and defenses. They had not been expected to take on the freedom fighters; they were meant as bait. The slavers had been used.

Jeeva told his tale and the shock on Ox’s and Fury’s face reflected his own when he had learned the truth.

OOC- This was rushed together but I think it turned out alright. We shouldn’t really get too deep into the darkman and the “organization” outright. Let’s just let them show themselves by their actions, not just by telling who or what they are.
 
OOC: I agree. The slow revealing of details will help keep the suspense going. The story won't be one fight scene after another as we try to get to the main baddy who we have known about for ages.
 
In the Fort- a plan.

Jeeva looked up into the sky, the sun was getting low. Only a few hours left. Soon the darkness would sweep over the land and deathclaw would haunt the shadows. He could smell the smoke still from the fires in Wainright. There had been no rescue. He hadn't expected one.

Topaz watched his commander. "What do you think?" The two men were alone.

"I think we die tonight, brother. But not without our wage in blood." Said Jeeva quietly, wistfully. "But I pray we survive, and if we do, I swear we will get our druthers, and those that betray us will know not to turn their backs."

"Then let us live."

"And wishing will not make it so. Come on." Jeeva called out, and left the room towards the central corridor. "Gather round, slavers and you others who want to live tonight."

The slavers, were tired but loyal to their commander. The ghouls, relieved that the humans were taking the initiative, moved over to listen. Rogue and Ibis left the hospital, helping the wounded Ferris. Tia and Fury were both up. Their arms bandaged and bruised but otherwise fit. Finally, Caleb, the old gunslinger came down from his perch on the top floor where he had watched over the graveyard, but his eyes went to Ibis.

"We have sent for supplies, food and ammunition, with which he might hold. With luck the supplies will come back soon, but we cannot count on them." Said Jeeva.

"You can count on both men. They will return." Said Caleb.

"So we shall rejoice when they return, Blade, but now we have to secure this site and prepare for the night. The deathclaw are still out there, and they know we are here." Said Jeeva. "We need answers."

"Yes, but as long as we have the walls we are safe." Said one of the ghouls.

"Not quite," Said Caleb, "one of them tunnelled underneath the walls last night, and came up underneath us. The hole has been fixed, but there might be others."

Jeeva listened patiently. His mind already had a plan, but he needed the others to confer, to reach an agreement. For them to survive, they would have to work together, as one. So he listened while the others planned.

"This fort is older than I," Said Ibis, "And I know of no one trying to repair it."

"The old man's right." Said Oxby, "This old mortar, brick and wood, is weak. If the deathclaw could they would be able to break through with a battering ram easy. Lucky us. But they could come through the door, or even break through the plaster."

"I even seen 'em climb the walls of a building once," Added Tia.

"Our best bet is to have them feed on each other outside the walls." Said Caleb. "That's why they didn't get us last night. There were too many dead and wounded for them to bother with us. That and there were other more easy targets."

"But tonight, we're on our own." Said Rogue.

"Aye," Said Jeeva, "On our own. As you know, Ozby's got the generator working, and we got it wired to the razor wire on the peremeter walls and the maid door. Don't think the deathclaw will like the shocks. But its not enough. They can still come through the floors and if the generator gives, over the top or through the door."

Ferris spoke, still distrustful of the slavers. "There's not much moon tonight and I think it'll get cloudy, so our visibility won't be shit. Even so from up on the wall we can drop em with some wll aimed shots for the sniper rifles and the plasma gun."

"Skik left behind the microwave, that should toast up a couple. " Said a ghoul, holding up Skik's energy weapon."

"Shotguns with flechette rounds and slugs will work close in if they get inside. Maybe also if they get close." Said Yacob.

His brother, Horus nodded. "We got plenty. Not only that, I can make some mines that will work like shotgun shells up close and set them around the walls. "

"The more we wound, the better. We don't have to kill em. " Said Caleb. "The deathclaw are after meals, not their own deaths. If we can wound some, their wounded will become the more easy target,and the deathclaw will feast on their own and leave us more or less alone."

"Still, I'd be happier if they were further away." Said Rogue. Her memories of the fight to the force were still fresh. She remembered her list sight of Wheeler and Kirk.

"And we should think about escape, if they breach." Said Wally. "It's not safe for the wounded, but it's less dangerous than having an angry deathclaw in the building. If worse comes to worse, we will need to evacuate through the basement."

Jeeva looked to Caleb, and saw the gunslinger was nodding.

"Agreed." Now comes the hard sell, thought Jeeva, "But lets keep them off the walls. There's a fence of razor wire outside, that's been damaged in places, but we can fix it."

Caleb now turned his attention to the slaver. The Slaver was willing to go outside the fort to fix a fence to defend them against deathclaws. Whatever else his faults, the slaver had balls.

The ghouls began to murmur amongst each other. The others remained quiet. To go outside meant to risk deathclaws.

"Slaver," It was Ferris who spoke, "I'd go, but with my wound, I'd just slow you down. But my rifle is still good and my eyesight undamaged. I'll do my best to keep the monsters off you. "

"I'll go" said Topaz.

Finn and Knox, who had known Jeeva longer than most, quickly spoke. "Aye, Cap. count on us."

Fury spoke next, "Count on me too."

"No girl, your wound will only attract the monsters. Better you stay here and give us cover." Said Jeeva.

"You'll need me Jeeva," Said Ozby.

"We need you more by the generator, Oz. We can manage to wire up the fence if you'll tell us."

Ox stood forward. "I'm in." The other able bodied slavers, afraid to look left out, also stood.

"I'll do my part." Said Caleb.

"And I."

"Girl, I think you'd be best up on the roof top with the ghouls, giving us cover." Said Topaz. Rogue nodded and with the ghouls, climbed to the second floor landing, taking a place to provide cover.

"Don't leave us out Slaver. " Said Horus. "But my brother got the wind knocked from him. He should stay back."

"Agreed." Said Jeeva. "Alright then, we don't got much time. Let's do this and get back. All in one piece."

____________________


Mark watched as Captain Kreig came back from the gate. The Captain was legendary among the Bordermen. Not only was he known as one of the fierest warriors, but also for having the harshest tempers.

"Fucking Shit of a Cop." Muttered Kreig, more to himself than anyone. "Balls of a Cockroach and a dick like a toothpick I bet."

"No luck?" Asked Mark.

"Fuck 'em. If I had a dozen more men I would go in myself."

The Captain had been one of the leaders of the withdrawal of Border town and had led the rear guard on the escape of the few who got out before the raiders took over. It had been a hard fight, but Krieg was a resourceful and bold warrior, who knew how to fight in the wastes. Mark had remembered him there, holding off the raiders as the others retreated. How many people had Krieg saved?

But the old soldier wasn't happy in Tabis. Many of the Bordertown survivors had gone to Tabis because it was close. Captain Krieg wanted to go back, to retake Bordertown. But he had too few men here and reinforcements had not yet arrived.

So when Krieg had come into the Border Patrol office to find three bordermen gone, he had been notiably irrate. During the course of the day he had finally tracked down what happened, and was no more happier when he realized that the men had gone over the Elevated into Wainright Park on some fool's rescue mission. Wheeler was one of his most trusted sergeants, but the two others, Kirk and Ferris, were still too young.

Krieg had gone ballistic when he had learned that a large group of slavers had followed them over. Now the gate was closed. No one in or out. Fucking cops.

"Where too boss?" Said Mark.

"The Rusty Nail. I need to talk to the woman and find out what the hell this is all about."

_____________________

Nana, Yacob's wife, had not noticed the man when he came up to the bar. Her mind was on Fantasia and the problems of getting rid of the body. Better to let that damn dog dispose of the body, she thought.

"Miss? Could you help me with something?" Said the man.

"We serve drink here, not pussy. You want some tail, find another hole."

It was early yet, but the Rusty Nail was beginning to take in the early crowd. Nana was also waiting for someone else.

"Ah, yes, I see what you are thinking." The man had a thick accent, which Nana identified as from the desert country to the south. "it's that I am looking for.."

" The Slaughtered Lamb's got gambling and whores." She cut him off.

Nana was impatient, upset and worried. Yacob and Horus had gone over the Elevated and had not returned. Worse, a group of slavers had followed them over and the fucking cops had locked the gate up. The situation was really starting to piss her off."

"I am looking for a man I think you know. A bounty hunter."

"We don't give information here." She said, suspicious.

"He is a friend of your husband, Yacob."
Said the man.

"What do you know of Yacob?" She demanded, becoming protective.

"He was a badge. Like I." Said the man.

He was about average height, with a slight belly. Small dark eyes, under busy eyebrows. A round brown face with a drooping full mustache, but he carried himself like a badge.

"You're a badge? Yacob was a friend of yours?"

"I do now know your husband. But his friend is a man named Grimm yes?"

"What of it?"

"We have business. Urgent business. I fear his life is in danger. I need to find him."





_______________

OOC- ok the slaver plan is to ring up the rest of the wire.
 
on the wire

On the second floor landing Rogue, Ferris and the ghouls spread out and looked for lingering deathclaw. But they saw nothing lingering in the afternoon sun and the deepening shadows.

"I don't see 'em, but I know they're there." Said Ferris.

"I know what you mean." Said Rogue to young borderman. "YOu can feel 'em." Then she looked over at the ghouls. "Anything?"

The ghouls only grunted, nothing.

Rogue looked down a hole at Caleb's expectant face. "Nothing, it looks clear from here but be careful. I don't like it."

Caleb nodded. "Ok slaver. It's your game."

Horus and Yacob got ready by the door. The two brothers, along with the guard Tia would hold the door open while the others worked outside, and keep it open until they returned.

Jeeva looked at his men. "Alright, be fast. We might not see 'em but we know their out there, and looking for us. The longer we stay out, the more tempting we become." The men grunted and murmured their assent.

"Alright innkeeper, you'll keep the gate?"

"I'll not let any them big clawed motherfuckers in but yes, the gate stays till you get back."

And Jeeva looked over at Caleb.

"What?" Said the Blade, "I go out too."

"Alright, lets do it."

The door had not fully opened and already the men were outside.

The old razor wire barricades had been set around the buildings, over the cemetary. But parts had falled aside, and others were buried. They would have to do the repairs quickly. The sun would set soon.

Talon, with Finn, Knox, and three other slavers ran for the wire barricades as Caleb and Jeeva provided cover. Inside the fort, Jury passed, cradlying a flamer in her bandaged arms. She was well aware that she was the insurance that the other slavers would be able be let back into the fort. Ozby sat on a makeshift stool, readying the generator.

As soon as they reached the barricade, Talon dropped, M-60 at the ready. "Let not dally, boys."

Ox, the more experienced of the slavers quickly set to work, ordering the men about as they removed the debries and reconstructed the barricade. Knox unspun a reel of salvaged wire back from the fort and attached the wire to the line to the generator.

Finn, with a flamer, had gone further out. He would be the first line if the deathclaw rushed. He would hopefully provide the flame that the men could retreat behind.

Caleb watched the slavers work quickly. They were moving fast, together, like a team and their competence impressed him. Even so, he was beginning to have his doubts about this operation. Although he dare not glimpse at the sky, he could feel by the sun on his skin that the day was getting later. And as the sun dropped the deathclaw would get bolder.

Jeeva was now down among his men, urging them on, the plasma rifle now humming in his hands. He spoke quietly, encouraging them, urging them to hurry.

Of the deathclaw he saw nothing.

Nor did the snipers on the second floor. Nor the men at the gate.

The calm was eerily distrubing. Jeeva had expected at least one deathclaw to dash at his men. Nothing.

Where the hell where they?

Caleb watched, noting as the men worked, they began to move further and further away from the gate, until they had moved beyond view of the large double door and its guards.

On the wire, Talon moved slowly with the men, repositioning his M-60.

Ahead of them Finn continued to keep pace, the pilot light of his flamer burning a bright blue flame. The men each had a weapon slung to their shoulders.

But the deathclaw could be so fast. They would never have a chance to use them if the monsters struck.

'Ox, give me a hand with this," the big slaver said, struggling to remove fallen masonry that covered a section of wire. Together the two men heaved, and then lifted over the section which collapsed with a loud break.

"Frosty, Grab a flamer" said Talon to one of the others. "I don't like the fact that we are moving too far from the gate. Apone and Vasquez, let's get it going. "

By now they were on the other side of the Gate. Horus and Yacob looked over at Fury, and then back at each other.

"Even think about leaving my brothers out there and I'll torch your ass." The female slaver warned.

"It's not that girl," Said Yacob, apologetically, "It's just that Horus, well..."

"Shut up Yacob!" Complained Horus.

"Well what?" Demanded Fury.

"He likes you?" said Yacob, not without a hint of tease.

"Fuck." Said Fury.

"Well, it's just that he's shy with women, and most aren't so strong, violent or of such an utter mean tempered disposition. ANd he likes that. So I fear he's taking a fancy to you."

"Fuck me." Said Fury.

"I think that's the idea." said Yacob

"Is it my fault I'm shy." Said Horus, sheepishly.

Outside the men continued to work, they were nearing the second corner now, and working their way back. Frosty and Caleb were far to right, Jeeva and Talon on the left and Finn out front with the flamer. Ox, Vazquez and Apone working deseperately fast, their hands now bloody from the razor wire.

It was when Finn glanced back at the work detail, that things began to unravel. "Hey what happened to Apone?" Said Finn.

The others stopped to look.

OOC- Hey 125 posts- more than the first Chapter! and over 1000 views!
More on this coming.
 
Under the graveyard

ooc- Ok trivia! From what famous sci-fi film do we get Apone, Frosty and Vasquez?
____________

Jeeva was first to respond. "Finn, man your position. Frosty check it out. Lets go boys."

"Get them back in the fort, Jeeva." Said Caleb.

"We're not done yet." Said Talon, getting read behind his hog.

Flinn, out front, kept glancing back towards the others.

"Almost done." Said Ox.

Frosty knelled down and pointed his flamer to a hole near where the others had stood only moments ago. He could hear something, moving, underneath. Something damp was on the ground. He reached out, touched it, and brought it to his face.

Red.

"Holy shit! They're underneath." He cried, as he squeezed a burst from his flamer.

And things began to unravel so quickly.

The hole filled with burning liquid fire, and from beneath, a roar, quick and then cut off.

Frosty stepped back, his flamer still pointing at the hole. He didn't see the ground move beneath his feet, or the talons rise out of the sand. He didn't even know his danger until he suddently felt the claw hand jerk him under the sand.

He barely had time to scream.
 
OOC- Okay, I guess I’ll straighten out the mess with Frank since he is my idea. I’d rather not edit the earlier posts to make Frank less high profile so I’ll just wing it like I normally do.

IC-

The darkman drifted into town, bringing with him silent Death. He was like the plague and he observed his upcoming victims with indifference, not biasing against anyone. In a way, his crusade was a pure one.

The battle at the fortress was still going on but the darkman had left early. He had seen the slavers make their condemned charge against the fortress but did not stick around. He was confident that deathclaws or the fort’s occupants would either kill the slavers. There were, after all, plenty of more slavers to call upon.

He walked the streets, but one lonely man bathed in the dimming lights of street lamps. Thick churning smog still lingered in the air, the residue of burnt char from the extinguished fires. The direct threat to Tabis had been defeated but even more enemies were being harboring and amassing to take the little nuisance of the town. The exhausted residents rested complacently in their homes, safe and sheltered. They were like cattle, unaware of the knife lingering above them, ready to slaughter.

The darkman walked leisurely towards the police station of Tabis. His ebony skin blended into the darkness of the night except for the garishly glossy shine of a leather jacket. Either loose change in his pockets or chains rang out, announcing his coming. But despite all of this, the darkman seemed remarkably…dim. As if vigilant eyes overlooked his presence and wandered off. As if this dangerous man was mystically absent to the senses.

He walked in the middle of the road, a forgotten tarmac of concrete no longer traveled by automobiles. The darkman knew of cars but he doubted if any of the peons in Tabis would recognize one. The streetlights, stretching far down the sidewalk, cast their gloomy glows onto the road yet a cloak of darkness lingered around him.

Down the road, a young mother and a child walked along the sidewalk towards the darkman. She walked hunched over, her wrapped kid bundled closely towards her bosom. The darkman did not deviate from his path and the woman gave him a wide berth. Her anxious eyes lit up in fear when she felt a waterfall of icy coldness cascade down her spine. As the darkman passed, her child suddenly raised his head and cried great, heaving sobs. The mother ran the rest of the way back home and it would be hours before the child drifted into an uneasy sleep.

The darkman turned around to watch the retreating back of the woman. He tucked his hands innocently into the pockets of his black jeans like a schoolboy, whistling inconspicuously. His brilliant, ivory teeth flashed out like a beacon in the night and he chuckled coldly. The doomsayer laugh echoed and followed the darkman as he turned around to continue his journey.

The darkman had only taken a few steps in his ragged boots when he paused in his tracks again. Someone was coming, a wayfarer of the open road. His eyes lit up in childishly cruel delight as e stopped in his tracks. He reached into his leather jacket and unlimbered a shiv from out of the folds. The stiletto-thin blade sparkled in its rusty glory.

Then, a dark figure stepped warily out of the shadows of the alley. The figure stopped before the opening, looking both ways and overlooking the darkman, before he ran out and scurried to the opposite side of the road.

The darkman watched the shadowed figure run across like a lithe cat. He only had to look at the figure’s garb and stance to know that it was an assassin. He had been around the enigmatic Doctor Mandrake to know an assassin when he saw one.

The shadowed figure ran, unaware of the peril he was in. The darkman watched him with the shiv in hand, just a few steps away. The shadowed assassin knew the art of being dim himself, but the darkman had mastered the secret.

The darkman stood there in the middle of the road. The agency had reported something about an assassin coming into town. A Nightblade, in fact. Probably searching for the other Slayer who had killed Kroeger.

The shiv yearned, cried out even, to spill blood but the darkman stayed his hand. He only watched silently as the Nightblade fled back into the comforting folds of the shadows. Run while you can, the darkman thought in his mind. There would be other opportunities. The darkman sheathed his shiv and walked away.

As Gabriel ran across the town to search for his contacts, he was suddenly struck with a cold feeling of fear. The assassin stopped momentarily, bathed in sweat and eyes open wide like a doe. Then the chill left and the assassin ran without a second thought.

The police station of Tabis loomed ahead of the darkman. Its lights were still on, a silent vanguard against crime. To protect and serve, and all that fine shit. The darkman walked to the side alley of the station, dipping into the bathing darkness.

Someone was waiting there for him, as was planned. A balding, dwarfish, and pudgy man was leaning against a dumpster and chugging on a cigar. The darkman approached him.

“Howdy, Frank!” the darkman yelled as he leapt out of the shadows.

Frank Wachowski jumped in surprise, seeing the darkman materializing from out of nowhere in front of him. The chief of police dropped the cigar and clutched his hands to his chest. “Christ!” he exclaimed.

The darkman placed a consoling hand on the chief of police. His face drooped in mock sympathy. “Jesus, Frank!” he said, leaning in close to the short man. “You don’t look so good.” The condescending, wide grin could not keep itself off the darkman’s face.

Frank slapped away the darkman’s hand in disgust but its owner only laughed jovially. “I know how I look,” Frank said sulkily. “You don’t have to tell me.” Despite the briskness of the night, the chief’s face was basked in sweat.

“Don’t be like that,” chided the darkman. He playfully punched Frank on the arm, just a bit too hard to be considered playful, and Frank flew against the wall. The chief hit it hard and sprawled onto the floor. The darkman lifted him up easily off his feet, grabbing onto a handful of shirt. “Be nice now,” he breathed huskily.

Frank Wachowski didn’t struggle or squirm in the darkman’s grasp. Instead he whispered, “Get your hands off me or I’ll have fifty cops on your ass.”

The darkman chuckled, not afraid. His lips moved in laughter but his eyes were dead earnest. “Your throat would be cut and I’d be long gone before they even got here.”

Frank wasn’t scared either, though. “Let me down,” he repeated adamantly.

The darkman shrugged dismissively and dropped the pudgy man to his feet Frank fell with a grunt and climbed to his feet. He stared angrily at the darkman but the darkman only grinned silently and shrugged an I-didn’t-do-it shrug.

Frank did not waste any time. He looked around at the entrance to the alley to make sure they were truly alone before leaning in and whispering, “Is it done?” His hands clenched and unclenched reflexively.

The darkman shrugged again. “Probably, by know. I don’t know how long a few men can last against a horde of deathclaws with some slavers thrown in for variety.” Then, the darkman grin widened. “But you don’t have to worry about that, my pretty.” He pinched Frank’s cheek and laughed.

The chief of police was not amused. He leisurely withdrew a cigar and lit it. The tiny glow of the match lit up Frank’s face like a cultist leering over a pyre. Noxious smoke chugged freely from the unfiltered cigar. After taking a few inhalations, Frank removed the cigar and pointed it at the darkman. “You’d just better keep up your part of the bargain. I let you kill that damned Blade and his friends without interference and you leave Tabis alone.”

The darkman, grinning, pointed at himself in shock. “Me going against my word? Unheard of! I’m hurt, Frank, I really am.” He pantomimed a dignified expression of horror.

“Whatever. You just better leave my town and let everything go back to normal.”

The darkman tittered. Rolling his eyes, he said, “Yes, ‘normal’. Everything will be exactly the same. There’ll still be a corrupt police chief ready to fill his pockets.” He couldn’t help himself. He had to churn and slowly boil this man.

The darkman had hit the right button. Frank’s face exploded into an expression of rage. “I’m just doing whatever it takes to keep my town safe.” He wagged the cigar at the darkman. “And you’d just better reign in that lip of yours.”

The darkman ignored the threat. “I’m sure the townsfolk will appreciate all you’ve done once they find out the deal you made.” He whistled innocently.

“They won’t find out,” Frank said quietly. “I’ve made it known I’m against the slavers.”

“Do you mean those two cops you so freely sacrificed?”

Frank closed his eyes, shutting back the pain. That one had hurt. “Yeah,” he said weakly. “Neil was our best cop and Paul had a family. The people will be too busy crying out for you blood to check up on me.”

“And by that time, you’ll be long gone with your pockets stuffed with cash?” asked the darkman coyly.

Frank dropped the halfsmoked cigar and stamped it out. He cupped his hands over his face. “I just want this to be over…” trailed on the chief of police. He collapsed to the ground in great, wracking sobs.

The darkman left the disgusting sight, leaving the chief to cry in a puddle of filth.

He turned away and disappeared into the shadows, laughing manically. The echoes of the chilling laughter ringed out into the city.


OOC- I dunno, Welsh. I'm thinking one of the Aliens or Predator movies.
 
OOC: Sorry to get your hopes up about a IC post, but I have to go out now.

Welsh, I can tell you for certain that those names come from Aliens (the second film). They are the names of 3 of the Marines. Apone is the Black sergeant, Frost is the big blond guy who uses one of the heavy machine guns and Vasquez is the small Mexican woman who uses the other big gun - she is played by the woman who plays John Conner's stepmother in Termintator 2. (Though she looks distinctly darker in the Alien film, hmm. Still, I'm pretty sure it was her.

I watch too many films.
 
Oh my lord, it's been too long since i last posted. Well, there's a three day weekend ahead.
I told my self i would stay loyal to this unlike chapter 1, so i am determined to keep going no matter what.

Oh and nice contributions from everyone, the plots are moving and people are doing a great job.
 
OOC- oK..here goes...

Jeeva gaped in shock at the scene before him; Frosty disappeared into the brown dirt with a final scream that was drowned out as the slaver disappeared.

“Move back to the fort now.” Bellowed Caleb to Jeeva. The slaver commander turned to his men; his words were rattled down by the sound of Talon turning over the M-60.
The slaver gritted his teeth and clamped down hard on the rests of the heavy support weapon. The fast recession of the recoil caused him to chatter as he yelled. The deathclaw moved through the ground at great speed, its thick hide could be seen from under the surface as what seemed to be a mound of dirt sped towards Talon’s position.

“Talon, move your ass out a there.” Jeeva yelled as the plasma rifle hissed into action sending bolts of heated plasma impacting on the moving deathclaw, the plasma having little impact on the deathclaws advance deterring the creature very little.

“We need just a little more time.” Ox yelled in reply to his commanders orders, his hands fiddled franticly with the razor wire. The large slavers hands were bleeding badly due to the sharpness of the fence but there was no pain. The adrenaline of the moment had taken over and Ox continued with the task at hand.

Vazquez worked quickly at Ox’s side, climbing over one and other to repair as much fence as possible. With two men down and the rest engadged in a fight against the coming deathclaws, the process of repairing the fence would go much slowly.
The two slavers had to continue though despite the loss of their comrades. Just as long as the others could hold those snarling beasts off.

The sound of shots exploded from the fort. The snipers finally getting view of a deathclaw moving in the darkness.
Ferris looked out over the park, with the enhanced view provided by the rifles scopes, the young boder patrol guard could see the shadows moving in the evening sunlight.

Ferris leant over the wood, just able to see the working slavers and the fire fight erupting on ground level.

“Here they fucking come.” The young guard snorted to Caleb whilst pointing over out into the darkness of the park.
Caleb strained to see anything through the increasing darkness; it would be completely dark soon, allowing the deathclaws to move freely with more confidence. He didn't doubt Ferris's words though.

“We got to get back to the fort now.” Caleb shouted showing his anger. Damn stubborn slavers he thought, they were trying to help but would be little use dead.

Finn watched as the mayhem continued. He had noticed Frosty get taking under but was too far away to bring his help to the doomed slaver.
They wouldn't get past him. He would hold his position no matter what happened, it was vital to the survival of the group.

Ox and Vasquez continued frantically, trying not to let the fighting that pulsed around them get their attention.
They were that involved with the reparation of the fence that they to notice the earth move slowly behind them. The silent movements of a sneak deathclaw that quietly moved up through the dirt.
The creature seemed to use the sound of gunshots as a cover for its predominant attack.

Finn glared around, scanning the local surrounding’s for any sign of deathclaw movement. The sudden loss of two slavers lives had made him on the edge. It wasn’t until he glimpsed at the two slavers to see their progression with the fence that he noticed what was happening.
Finn yelled out in a desperate attempt to notify Ox and the Valsquez but his cries were dampened by the sound gun shots as the heavy rattle of Talon’s M-60 filled the darkened sky's

Finn, knowing there was only one thing left to do. The slaver threw his body into a forward motion and ran with his flamer readied towards Ox’s position.
Finn continued to cry out but with little success. He swung his head around to look for help only to see that the others were already occupied, the first deathclaw was still advancing on Talon who was using an extraction tactic from which he fired and the retreated before stopping to fire again. Jeeva and Caleb were continuing to fire upon the creature in a desperate bid to halt its advance.

No, this he would have to do alone. Finn charged at the deathclaw that was nearly fully visible now and moving towards it’s unsuspecting pray. Finn let out a cold war cry as flames spat towards the creature, maybe if he could just get its attention or Ox’s. But he wasn't close enough. The deathclaw seemed to notice the slaver but showed little concern with him. It was alomost as if the animal knew he wouldn't be able to make it in time.

Jeeva took a better aim with the heavy plasma rifle, glancing down the sights he remembered the first lessons to being a successful sniper, lessons he had never learnt too well.
Squeezing the trigger slowly, the rifle kicked back as the weapon produced a short flash of light. The plasma bolt some how hit the creature with unexpected precision.
Caleb watched as the deathclaw, suddenly enraged by Jeeva’s shot, showed its ugly horned face. A big mistake on the creature’s behalf.
Being underground had given it some cover from the shots. Now its body and head were exposed to the three fighter’s rounds and they weren’t going to miss.
Caleb brought his rifle to a shoulder and squinted down the long metal sights, aiming for the temple, the blade fired two quick rounds in succession. The first hit the monster in the left shoulder causing the creature to flinch slightly but the second, a more steadily fired shot hit the foul beast in the neck.

Granted, the shot wasn’t what Caleb had been aiming for but as good as any.
The deathclaw slowed rapidly in its advance, its long deadly arms scratched helplessly at the gaping wound. The creature thrashed wildly about, no sound emitted though as the deathclaw slowly drowned on its own blood.
Talon finished the beast with a burst from the M-60 which sent its doomed body to the dirt.

Finn continued to charge the deathclaw, despite his speed he wasn’t fast enough, the creature would reach Ox’s position before he could stop it. In anger at the his slow speed and at the negligence of his fellow slavers who were too busy repairing the fence to notice the abnormally quite deathclaw, he let out another burst from the flamer.

Vasquez caught a glimpse of the light emitted from the flamers burst as Finn's shot was closer this time around,
Turning, the slaver noticed Finn running, that wasn’t what got his attention though.
The creeping deathclaw that couldn’t be heard was moving up from behind and Vasquez stood in dissbelief.

“Oh shit.” Vasquez exclaimed, getting the attention of Finn besides him.
The deathclaw now realising that it’s pray had spotted its stealthy advance, kicked up a cloud of dry dirt as it charged on the their location.

The two men, not having their weapons at hand, grabbed in panic for their rifles.
The silent movement of the tricky claw had given it too big of an advance though.
Ox, the only one who managed to get his rifle up in time was able to let off a couple of rounds before the creature slammed into the large man.
Using its long arms, the deathclaw thrashed at the large slaver. Ox screamed in pain as the creature’s talons tore through his body.

Vazquez, now with his weapon ready hailed rounds onto the creature. The light rifle did little damaged except gain the unwanted attention of the attacking deathclaw.
Looking up, the creature left Ox’s blood stained body and made quick movements towards Vasquez. The slaver turned to run, the strength and fire power no match for the deathclaws speed and sheer power.

Finn dropped to one knee as Vasquez ran round the side of him, the deathclaw hard on their tale.

Finn waited before he let the flamer roar into action, flames poured out into the path of the incoming deathclaw. Vasquez opened up once again with his rifle.
Despite the damaged inflicted on the creature, it kept coming. Its singed body still moving at some pace ran down Finn who was still firing. The slaver’s eyes opened wide as the creature slammed into him before he had a chance to move crushing the fighter under its weight.

Vasquez looked on in shock, as the creature layed atop of Finn.

“Shit, mother fucker.” Vasquez spat as he continued to fire at the deathclaw.

Vasquez tryed what he could to release the trapped yet still alive Finn from under the deathclaw. He turned and looked in dismay for help from his fellow slavers whilst trying to pull Fin from under the heavy beast.

OOC- Well, who want's to continue this. I will be glad to, i just wanted to brake the fight down rather than have it in one long post.
 
Bad times for the slavers

OOC-
Ok Rogue, thanks for picking up on this. Couple things though. Apone was the first to get whacked. The deathclaw got him and dragged him underground before he could scream or the others could notice. It was Finn that noticed Apone got taken, then Frost went to it out, heard the deathclaw finishing off Apone underground. Can you edit your post to fit? It shouldn't change much as you still have Vasquez. Of course, now we are down a lot of slavers.

Reaper- Almost right. Apone was the black sergeant who got whacked first (like here- althouth the aliens just impregnated him and didn't kill him outright.) Vasquez was the little hispanic girl. But Frost was the black guy who is probably the third person to get killed. Someone says "Stay Frosty" to him and then I think the medic gets picked off, fires off the flamer, hits Frosty, Frosty falls down over the rail and since he's carrying the explosives, gets blown up.

I'll post again in a bit.
 
OOC- Oky's its done. Sorry about that.
I changed it also so that Fin is still alive but trapped under the deathclaw's charred corpse. If this is too unrealistic then say and i will change it to a different finish. :)
 
OOC: I remember Apone getting taken first, he was cool. The tough, cigar smoking sergeant - I also recall that whoever is forced to carry everyone else's ammo after Apone confiscates is the one who gets flamed and falls down the stairwell, leaving the team with limited ammunition. The black guy with the scanner who Michael Biehn tells to 'stay frosty', I remember him now.

What was the blond guy's name? Vasquez shouts his name when he gets hit with acid blood when they reach the APC, but I can't remember it.

IC:

Gabriel moved swiftly through the streets of Tabis, dodging from shadow to shadow, advancing unseen through the darkness. He crossed a street, feeling the light of the streetlamps hit him and making him wince at the lack of stealth. He was in a hurry and the people of Tabis weren't looking for him so he was not overly concerned, but as he passed from sight, disappearing down the alley, Gabriel felt the hairs on the nape of his neck, rise. He sensed...something, something bad. He was still moving and as he fled further into the maze of ramshackle building, the feeling passed.

It bothered the assassin that he had not detected the presence until the last minute. The thought of those exposed, vulnerable moments made him shiver. He relied on his superior senses to keep him ahead of the competition. Another assassin was the only opponent who stood a chance against him. In close combat, Gabriel could beat anyone but if taken unawares, he would be an easy kill, just like everyone else. This thought shook the normally confident assassin. Focusing on his task, Gabriel shrugged his doubts from his mind and hurried on, knowing the survivors in the fort were depending on him and Skik returning with the supplies.

He also knew he could just leave. Vanish into the night and be out of town and on his way back to base. The thought was appealing. He wasn't a soldier anymore, he had given up the life of rifle toting front-line trooper. He was not a footsoldier, he was a precision weapon of the Order. He was like a perfectly shaped dagger, requiring delicate use but more lethal than any bullet when applied in the right place. The fort surrounded by deathclaw was no place for an assassin.

Gabriel slipped the heavy pack from his shoulder and let it drop to the dusty floor. A ration box bounced out and hit the floor, the smiling chef on the cover pointed accusingly at Gabriel. He smiled, he did not believe a cartoon cook was going to make him jump back into the fray, facing almost certain death to save the lives of a few people who he barely knew.

The assassin stared at the pack and the provisions for the beleaguered defenders of the small fort. Once again, as it had done when he had watched the townsfolk react to the fire, Gabriel felt that unfamiliar emotion stir. Pity, empathy, the certain knowledge that if the situation had been reversed he would have been praying for help.

No, he was a killer, not a medic. He didn't come to heal or remove suffering, he carried suffering with him. He brought the suffering to others, he did not take it away.

The reassuring weight of his equipment harness on his body only reminded him of his true nature. Implements of death and pain hung from the leather and he was an expert in all their uses. He was most certainly not a saviour. The Archangel the defenders needed had been destroyed by the Slayers, all that was left was Gabriel, the Angel of Death.

With one last look at the pack of provisions, the assassin moved off into the darkness, leaving the food in the dusty alley.


Skik dragged the crate out of the shack and looked around to check there were no overly curious passers-by observing his activities. Seeing no one, the surprisingly strong ghoul hoisted the metal crate onto his shoulder, his wiry, corded muscles standing out like thick ropes. It took him twenty minutes to lug the equipment back to the safe house. This was his second trip. The first one had netted him a few boxes of ammunition for the defenders' rifles, a couple of powercells from his own generator and three old plasma grenades which Skik feared were a tad past their sell by date.

Stashing his earlier finds in the safe house, the ghoul had gone out in search of someone who would give a ghoul any firepower. Despite the fact that Skik had once been as human as the rest of Tabis' population, it shouldn't have been that difficult but then prejudice has never been on great terms with logic. Skik, of course, tried Kaldren but the first rescue had cleaned him out, or so he said. Skik didn't have time to find out which so he continued searching, going through the murky Tabis underworld. In the end, the only way Skik had managed to hit the pay dirt was to call on Bear.

Bear was a giant, standing 6' 7" of muscle, with a little bit of gut growing above his belt but that is price of successful living. The giant was a local gunrunner who occasionally used the ghoul's habitat of the sewers to move his illegal goods. Guns were not illegal in Tabis, no town in the wastes could enforce such a policy but Bear pushed the limits of every law he found, hence his stash of rocket launchers, a few energy weapons but best of all, canister after canister of his own make of Flamer fuel. 'Volatile 1' he called it, and Skik convinced the huge gunrunner to give him five canisters on credit.

"Credit?!" he bellowed with a chuckle, the sound taking some time to make it to his throat from his massively deep chest.

"Come on, Bear." Skik implored the impossibly large criminal. "When have I ever double crossed you?"

"Hmm, there was the time you only paid for half the goods." commented Bear.

"You only delivered half." retorted the ghoul.

"I sent all of it. The rest was taken in the sewers. Your job is keeping that underground scum away from my boys. That means it's your fault if they don't all make it. You owed me full price."

Skik, thought about this. Bear was right. You expected someone so huge to be stupid but the massive man was far from stupid.

"Why do you need all this stuff. I thought you weren't into all this fighting anymore. Not after things settled down."

"I need this for some friends." replied Skik.

"Oh, 'friends' sure." the big man laughed. "Don't take me for a ride Skik. We been doing business for some time now and you know I'm not an imbecile and if you fuck me, I'll carve you up so fine, no one will be able to tell that were a ghoul."

The threat hit Skik with a shock. The ghoul had no real way to reply, he couldn't threaten back, and he needed the man's help.

"Look, Bear. My friends are in trouble. They need some heavy firepower to get out of Dodge and while they got the guns, they're runnin' low on juice so I got to get it to them. Now are you gonna hook me up or what? I don't have time to sit around and kiss your ass. If you can't help me I have to move on and find someone who will."

The big guy looked impressed.

"You got balls, Skik, but then I always knew that." he paused, lighting a cigar. "I'll give you the stuff but I don't want to lose my sewer contact because his reckless friends got themselves into a bind."

"You won't. I've lived long but I ain't nearly old enough yet."

"I know you'll come back because I’m coming with you." he grinned. "I don't want to let that merchandise go on credit and have you die and not pay. Plus, I have a soft spot for you, my ghoulish friend." he huge man blew smoke. "If things are as bad as you say, this might be fun."

Skik was lost for words. All he could think of to say was,

"Don't say I didn't warn ya."

Bear grinned, showing the filed teeth, giving a bestial appearance to match his name. He held out a bear-like paw, he had really earned his name, and shook Skik's tiny hand forcefully, rattling the ghoul's bones.

"Lucile needs to get some exercise." said Bear moving toward the door at the back of the dark, smoke filled room.

Skik new what Lucile was. Now the deathclaw were in serious trouble.


The two men returned to the safe house. Bear, walking beside Skik, made the ghoul look like a dwarf.

They entered the silent building, carrying their deadly supplies and Skik called out quietly for the assassin. He heard no reply.

"Who are you calling for?" suspicion was noticeable in Bear's voice.

"Another guy trying to help my friends" replied Skik.

"Oo. Aren't they popular." said Bear with a chuckle.

The heavy pack of provisions landed with a thump between the two men. A voice floated through the darkness,

"He here to help?" came the cold, emotionless voice.

"Yes." replied Skik laconically.

"Good." Gabriel appeared from the shadows, holstering his twin Berettas.
 
Finn, trapped.

OOC- No I think Finn trapped undeneath is fine. I was going to have him snatched by a deathclaw from underground, but we can keep the nordic slaver around a bit longer. Oh you also see that Apone is still alive after your edits.

Interesting plot development Gunslinger. So the Slayers did kill Kroeger afterall. I had figured it was the darkman.

IIC-

"Finn! Finn!" Yelled Talon. Quickly he gathered up the M-60 and dashed to where the Deathclaw had collapsed.

"I think he's still alive!" yelled Vazques. "He's still breathing." The hispanic man was using his bloody hands to dig his comrade out.

Jeeva moved closer, his plama rifle read. "Talon, help out Vasquez." Quickly the second got down and helped with the digging.

"He's pretty fucked up, Man. Holy Fuck!" Vasquez yelled desperately.

Caleb got closer, rifle ready. "Snipers! Cover, and open keep the door open." In his mind he prayed for the slavers to hury up.

From the door, Horus and Fury moved their flamers out to a position midway between the Jeeva and Caleb's group and the door. Yacob and Tia, moved out from the door, flamers ready to defend the only entrance back into the fortress.

Under the ground, in small burrows dug from the ancient grave mounds, the deathclaw listened to the battle beginning above, began to stir from their daytime slumber.

______

At the Rusty Nail-

Nana's attention to Grim's associate broke as Captain Krieg stormed into the Inn, followed by Mark.

"Woman, what is this nonsense that I understand your husband has caused!" Demanded the Borderpatrol captain.

"You will mind your manners in my Inn, Borderman, and beware to speak ill of my husband or his brother in my presence."

Had Krieg been in town longer he might have known that Nana's reptuation among the local clientel ranged from maternal and good humor, to fiesty, to hot tempered. She was a woman given to moods, both pleasant and harsh, and lately she had been feeling dark.

"I understand your husband recruited three of my men on some fools crusade against the deathclaw."

"Your men joined my husband of their own free will because they believed in the rightness of it. Which is more than I can say about the other police in these parts." She replied, defensively.

The other patrons hushed their voices. The mood of the tavern was one of murmurred discontent. Yacob and Horus might have been known for keeping a welcoming Inn, but they were also know in the community for their generosity and bravery. In years past, the patrons had tried to persuade Yacob to run for city council, but the retired badge had always refused. He had claimed politics was a business for thieves and corrupt and he was just an honest ex-badge trying to make a living as an honest barkeep. This had only made him more popular.

And now the patrons were stirring. A few had already mentioned that perhaps the best thing was, damn the police, but do this themsleves.

"These local cops have no balls. I have spoken to the sergeant at the gate and he refuses to open up."

"Yes, I know. I spoke to him earlier, and he had said that he was under orders."

Nana didn't notice as the associate backed away and quietly left the bar.

____
OOC- more coming
 
On the wire

Knox had glanced up to see Ox get ripped apart by the deathclaw. Jeezus, he cursed under he thought. The work fell on his hands. Quickly, while the others gathered around the fallen Finn, he had repaired the last barricade.

"It's done!" He yelled, painfully aware that he was on his own. Grabbing a long metal pipe, he dashed back to where the others were trying to dig out the wounded Finn.

"Back away, and help me with this." He yelled, driving the pipe under the Deathclaw's body, and then using it as a lever. Knox was a big man who had prided himself on his physical strength. Only Ox had been the more powerful. But the deathclaw gave only a small bit.

"Not enough." Said Talon, desperately trying to drag out Finn's body.

Caleb quickly ran over, slinging the rifle down, and helped the big man. Slowly the body gave. Talon and Vasquez, quickly dragged the body out. Knox dropped the pipe and quickly picked up the wounded Finn, taking the big man over his shoulder.

"Back to the Fort. Everyone. But stay together and concentrate fire." Yelled Jeeva.

OOC-
Oops. We forgot about Knox.
 
Knox....that adds another slaver to the midsts.

Ok, i have the next part written, i just have to make some changes to incorporate Knox into the group. 5 mins :)
 
IC-

The group, having miraculously finished the fence, made their way back to the fort entrance with their wounded.

Caleb leading the way around the outer perimeter of the large fortification as the others followed in close per suite.

Knox carried Finn’s body; the wounded slaver had been knocked unconscious by the impact of the heavy deathclaw.
Vasquez, now wielding Finn’s flamer moved around the outside of the group ready to make a flaming barrier between the attackers and his comrades if anything were to come upon them. Talon took the rear, circling every couple of seconds to check they weren’t being followed by anything, above and below ground alike.

Meanwhile at the fort, Fury had been anxious at the sounds of fighting and awaited the return of the group with impatience.

“Shouldn’t they be back here by now?” She grumbled peering out of the door.

“They will finished soon enough and back here safe.” Yacob replied, frankly the slaver woman’s frantic pacing up and down was starting to annoy him.

Horus eyed the woman with great interest and admiration. Looking the fiery slaver up and down he allowed him self a sly chuckle and a grin slowly appeared on the huge mans face.

“There coming in, be ready to get that door shut fast.” Rogue yelled, half hanging over the wooden ledge.

Fury jumped to the words and moved just outside the door, she could now see Caleb and the others moving quickly towards her. Horus and Yacob readied them selves on the door, anything could happen yet and these doors would have to be shut fast in a bad situation to stop those mother fuckers getting in.
Yacob could see Knox carrying a wounded slaver. “Ibis, we got wounded coming in.” he yelled.

Ferris and the other ghouls waited, they kept their eyes on the surrounding ground around the fort. The darkness now nearly completely upon them made the objects in the park portray cold deceiving shadows. It was getting harder to distinguish a deathclaw from their position.

Ferris with the advantage of his scope could however still see out further than the others.
He wasn’t sure, but he could have sworn that there were movements out there in the distance of the park. He shivered coldly, the shadows deviously played games with ones mind when you were edgy and tense. Every shadow seems to take the form of a deathclaw.

The group moved faster, the door only a matter of meters away but even so it was still to far for a safe return. But what could one expect in this type of situation.

It was Caleb who noticed it first; the slight movement of the ground up ahead startled the blade and gave him enough doubt to stop the group in their tracks.
Jeeva moved up to the blades side.

“What’s wrong?” the slaver asked in a near silent and anxious tone.

“Caleb didn’t move, he simply nodded his head in the direction from where the ground had moved, “Over there, there waiting for us.” He whispered.

The two stared at the area were Caleb had signalled too, waiting, Jeeva gasped as he too saw the ground move, just slightly. The creatures must have been on the surface.

Rogue and the others snipers looked on as the group stopped, they stared blankly at the ground unable to see what was happening.

“What the hell are they doing?” Yacob whispered to Horus.

“Shhh.” Fury hissing the old badge quite, “There’s something wrong, the Blades seen something.” She said quietly.

Wally and Ibis were now ready at the door, waiting for the incoming injured.

Jeeva turned to Caleb, “What should we do?” He asked catching his breath.

The rest of the slavers stood behind, complete silence filled the air as they watched the two fighters stood perfectly still, wondering what the hell was going on.
 
the way in

Fury took a step back, raising the flamer. Horus, watching the woman's legs, caught the move and lifted up his flamer as well. "Yacob, get the shot gun ready and back up from the gate."

Caleb could barely see the monsters. They were ahead of the small group, but far enough away from the wall and hidden behind skeletal trees that threw shadows across them, hiding the deathclaw from the snipers.

Night had finally fallen.

They had been quick, but not quick enough. Now it was dark, and the deathclaw were coming out. And repair detail was still a long way from home

There were two of them and they had come out of the graves near the gate like demons. Jeeva, peering into the dark and it took a moment for him to spot them. "Damn."

There were more, Caleb knew. He just couldn't see them yet.

The beasts stood tall and ominous, long sharped talons dark in the shadows. In the stillness one could almost hear their rhythmic breathing.

"torch the fuckers." whispered Caleb, squeezing off the flamer he had taken from the fallen Finn.

The flamers of the small group light the darken park. Arches of burning flame illuminate the still park, the graves, impacting into the dead forest and encircling the monsters.

The fire wasn't accurate, but it was enough. Trees suddenly crackled apart and turned into giant torches, blinding all in the field.

Jeeva firing pulses of purple plasma into the snarling beasts. Besides him Talon's M-60, spitting sparks as round after round of heavy ammunition tore into the forest and the bodies therein. Vasquez flamer joining Caleb's as the monsters became engulf, enraged.

From the gate Horus and Fury unleased their flamers, hosing the two deathclaws.

Yacob yelling now." Come on! Run For it!" Then taking his place besides his brother, rapid eruptions of sparks erupting from his shotgun.

Knox, taking advantage, running for the gate. No encouragement needed.

Jeeva yelling. "Run damn it Run! Oz, light up the fence!"

A humming sound.

From above the ghouls, having abandoned their useless snipers are using flamers to lay down a wall of fire betweem the scrambling group and the unseen menace. Rogue and Ferris, firing their powerful rifles at the two burning beasts.

Jeeva fires and fires, barely noticing that the others are definitely not running.

One of the Large beasts takes a critical hit from the plasma rifle and crumbles over, his skin scorched, the smell of burnt deathclaw in the air.

The other, leaps through the wall of flame at the group, its body turning a massive torch. It clears the fire, but the pounding of the M-60 pushes its damaged body back as the others pound round after round into it.

Vasquez is now running. Knox, carrying the wounded Finn is at stumbling through the door.

Jeeva grabs at Talon, "Come on!" He yells. "Caleb, go!"

Rogue, on the wall is once again how amazed time slows in combat.

THe three remaining warriors are now running for their lives. The sound of the fire is a roar, but louder too is the roar of the deathclaws from behind them.

Vasquez stops for the others to catch up. He runs up onto a burial mound, and then his flamer is arching liquid flame through the sky at some unseen target.

The others run past him, Vasquez provides cover. "I'm right behind you." He yells to Jeeva as Jeeva runs past, following the slower footed Talon.

It is his last words.

His head turned to watch his comander past, he doesn't see the hand reach up from the grave, their talons coming up to his chest, and then lifting him off his feet.

Jeeva, Talon and Caleb, facing the door do not see the giant monster lift up the helpless Vasquez off his feet and into the sky. They do not stop even as Vasquez screams his last breath.

But Horus and Fury see it all, and Yacob turns at the sound of the scream.

Fury yells, "Jeeva, drop!" The three fall to the floor, as Horus and Fury fire their streams of flame overhead.

The three can feel the rush of fire over their heads and are suddenly awashed in heat. Drops of the burning napalm drop on them. Talon screams, a drop of naplam has hit his bare skin, and the gooey burning product lights his skin afire. Jeeva can feel his armor heat up as drops hit his armor.

The Creature is screaming in burning liquid napalm.

"Run damn it!" Yells Yacob.

Jeeva pushes the screaming Talon towards the door as he gets up.
Yacob waits till the three survivors pass before he unleashes his shotgun, its rounds making large holes in the burning monstrosity.

Then Yacob runs for it, hobbling, his chest wound still slowing him.

On the second floor, Rogue and Ferris concentrate their fire.

The gate keepers wait until the others are within the Fort before entering. Horus is last to enter after their brother, slamming the door and throwing the steel latch before flicking the switch nearby switch.

"Don't touch the door." He warns.

Jeeva is throwing dirt onto Talons burning upper arm, while the others look about, the rush of adrenaline pounding the blood through their veins.

Outside the burning deathclaw, still carrying the burning body of Vasquez, is still moving but without purpose or direction, its pain intense.

Other deathclaw race to climb or jump over the barricade to get at the dead. Those that touch fence are momentarily stunned and then knocked back, when they reach again and are similarly stunned.

One tries to leap but falls into a tangle of razor wire. It's body shakes in convulsions as the razor wire tears through the creatures touch hide.

Inside, Knox carries the wounded Finn into the hospital ward where Wally and Ibis await. The others lean against the wall and draw deep, desperate breaths.
 
Later at the Fort

Jeeva watches quietly as Ibis and Wally work on his fallen men. He doesn't want to think of those he lost. Ox, Vazquez, and Apone, are three more that will have to be paid for.

"How are they?" He asks, quietly.

Both Finn and Talon are unconscious, sedatives having done their magic.

"If we survive the night, I think they will both pull through." Says Wally. Ibis, noting that his ghoul friend has not been cracking any of his usual jokes tonight. " The young man will be scared for life, but he has other scars. Eventually the skin will heal over but he has lost significant sensation and the nerve damage is intense. It will hurt like hell. The main danger from burns is infection, so he will have to keep the wound clean. I have given him some antibotics, but he will need to continue a treatment."

Turning to Finn, Wally continued. "This one is worse off, but I think he'll probably live. But he won't be any good to you anymore. The weight of the deathclaw has crushed many of the bones of his chest. If he weren't in such excellent condition, he'd be dead. As is, he won't be able to move for a long time, at least until the bones heal. I can't tell what kind of damage was done to his internal organs, so to be honest, it's too soon to tell."

Jeeva nodded and left.

Ozby was sitting next to the generator. Knox was sleeping on the floor next to him.

"How is it?" asked Jeeva.

"This old clanker is still humming, but the damned monsters are drawing off the juice like a mother fucker."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top