Vault 15! (Wastelands Chapter 3)

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OCC- Ok, this is an effort to bring Zeke back into the fold. Also it's important for the plot.

IC-
Melvin was thinking about what had happened. Did I overreact? Stupid muthafucka kicked me in the nuts, bullshit, overact my ass.

Still the boy had gone out into the wastelands over this. And he was doing it over the lesbo.

Melvin thought about his nuts. They still ached like hell. Try as he could, the anaconda was hurtin tonight. The Viper girls had made it worse. Everytime they had rubbed their breasts up against him, his love snake had started to wake up, and as soon as it did, it hurt like hell.

Mutha fucka.

Still. Melvin didn't like the idea of the fool going off into the wastes by himself.

Should let the fucka die out there.

Despite himself, Melvin roused himself off the mats, threw on his pants and slipped out of the tent. Moments later he was slipping past the torches of the camp and moving into the darkness, off to find Zeke and bring him back.

___________

Dwemer and Inne continue to talk about the Vipers and the Rovers.

"I am not sure if this is worth it." Said Inne.

"If we don't do this we won't have much chance against the Rovers."

"But we could get killed." Said Inne.

"That's why you have to lead this."

"Me?"

"Of course, you've got the most experience." Said Dwemer. "Listen to the others. They've got good heads on their shoulders. Sam is good with tactics, as is Vedpose. Caribe has been in a few gunfights. More experience in this kind of thing than I have."

Inne shook her head. "I don't know."

Dwemer got up. "You'll be fine."

Then he went back to his tent. Using an old wax candle for light he scribbled out a message.

My friends,

In the morning you will find me gone from here. You know what you must do. The Rovers must be removed and the Vipers need our help. Once the outpost is taken, you can move on the main camp.

I have gone ahead. By offering a diversion to the Rovers I will keep them from turning on the outpost or attacking the Vipers. More importantly, I am bringing unwanted attention to us. By moving on to the main camp and Vault 15, I hope to take that attention away, allowing you greater chance of success.

My business at Vault 15 has become too dangerous, and I do not wish to risk any of you needlessly. What I do at Vault 15 I do alone. As such, I may be able to move more quickly and silently than if I had a larger party. Stealth and secrecy are essential.

Godspeed friends, and hopefully soon we will all laugh on this at Shady Sands.

Dwemer.


Then he slipped over to where Roadrunner was sleeping and quietly kissed her head.

Her eyes flickered and slowly opened to look up at him.

"You're going." She said. More a statement than a question.

"I am doing what I have to." He said, trying to smile.

"You will not reach Vault 15 alone."

"I must try."

"I know. Don't worry. This parting will not last." Then she closed her eyes and soon was asleep.

Then, with the rest of the camp quiet and sleepy. Dwemer slipped out of camp.

OCC- OK Dwemer is leaving the group. But this won't last too long.
 
Daniel was still sitting in his spot, not sleeping but not truly awake.

For the 6th time that night movement woke him up.
The first time was Melvin going into a tent, followed my obvious feminine noise, causing the old Ghoul to smile at the younger mans antics.
The second time was one of the kids peeing.
the third thru fourth times were Melvin going into other tents, with the fifth being Melvin going off into the wastes for some reason Daniel didnt compreheand.
The 6th time that night, Daniel understood jsut fine.
Dwemer was going off to play bait.
Daneil almost wanted to follow him, but stoped himself.
'Dont be a dumbass Daniel' he told himself 'he chose to go alone, let the man make his own decisions. Gopdspeed, and dont die slow you dumbass motherfucker'
Daniel didnt expect to see either of the men again.
 
Zeke had wandered a good deal into the wastes after he had left and was well on his way to finding the Rovers attack outpost.

He would attack them during the night and rest during the day. Zeke had already stabbed a gecko and secured food for a few days, and found himself a rock shelter to sleep under as morning rose until night once again set.

Rovers were going to die in the droves and he would be seated on their throne.............
 
The feelings of anguish and rue that Ved would feel after her decision to stay with the group were something that would not pass easily. Zeke and her had been through a great deal together and had formed a strong bond. Nevertheless, Vedpose felt at her path did not entwine with the one that Zeke had chosen. Not to say that she felt that her path was really with the group either. There was the beginning of a feeling of inanition that she felt was consuming her. It felt something like a blackness that no fire could extinguish. The question of where she was to go had haunted her in the past but she had hope that the last time was the final. It definitely was not. Maybe a late night trip to that fortune telling nutcase was in order to ease her mind.

Ved went to wake Roadrunner but a voice cut the air before she even fully entered the room. “So the lost soul of the northlands has finally come. Take a seat on the floor; we will talk of things that must trouble you.”

“What makes you think that I came here to see you?”

“You come to seek the answers yet you do not believe.”

“Okay, but what makes you think that I am here to see you?”

“It has been foretold in the cards.” Roadrunner took out her deck and shuffled it.

“Okay, I’m leaving.” Ved turned to leave.

“The answers lie in the former haven of the lost ones, amongst the graves of the undertakers of life.” Ved then turned back to listen to what this gypsy had to say.

“Okay? So what are you trying to say?”

“The path is laid out before you. The future is clouded but I see the rider of chaos’ return. You must go with the paths of midst; with those you will have you.”

“What the hell are you trying to say? I really don’t get you mystery girl.”

“You have friends to make here, it will take only time.”

“OOOKKKKAAYY. I’m going to go now. I think you’re confusing me more, but ah yeah, thanks for making up that nonsense. It makes me feel like I am not the only bizarre figure out of this little group.”

With that Ved walked out to the outskirts of the camp and set out her small bed and blanket watching the stars and skies as people must have before the times of darkness and as she did a small beam of light shone across the sky. It was what the people in the old world called a shooting star. Ved’s grandfather had told her that people once believed that shooting stars could grant wishes if one was made upon there falling. Ved knew what these “Shooting Stars” really were from the ancient texts, but she could help but make a wish on that star none the less. A wish at she could find the better times that her grandfather spoke of, a place where she would have to not worry about the life of the wastes. None the less she found the wish an empty gesture.

She could not go to such a place because it didn’t exist. The only path was with the group for now. Ved decided that she was going to stay with these people up until vault 15. After that it would be time for them to go their separate ways just as Zeke and her had this night. Friendship in the wastes was just a lie everyone told themselves to get through life and Ved knew that, at least now she did. Whatever bond that was that formed was simply a result of a want for survival. More comrades equaled better chances of survival. It was only a step to preserve oneself. These thoughts drifted through the head of the lost soul of the northland as she drifted off to sleep, to a simpler time when people could be people and a friendship wasn’t so much a lie as it was in the present.
 
Melvin was soon realizing the foolishness of his choice to follow Zeke.

It wasn't that the man's trail was difficult to follow at night. It was, but the sand was soft and the trail was not hard to follow by the light of the moon.

Rather it was because his balls hurt like hell and he could barely walk. Frankly Melvin was wondering if Zeke's kick had sent his balls up into his throat.

So he tried to think of other things, and his mind turned to Katrina in Shady Sands, or maybe the Viper girls, who rubbed their beautiful big tanned titties in his face.

Melvin would begin to smile at those thoughts, but then he'd start getting a hard on and the aches would come again.

By morning he was having trouble limping and the pain was so intense that he was becoming dizzy.

It was in this state of dizzy pain that Melvin found Zeke.

Zeke had found himself a fine shelter and had camoflauged himself well enough that a raider might have passed right over him. Even had Melvin not been dizzy he would have probably not seen him. Zeke was sleeping with his head under a rock shelter and his legs out into the waste.

It was those legs that Melvin tripped over and went down, hard.

He rolled over as Zeke was getting up, knife in hand.

"What the fuck are you doing here. You came for your lesson in fightin'" Growled Zeke.

"And to find my balls which you seemed to kick to my throat. No, muthafucka, I came out to save your ass."

"I don't need you to save my ass. I can do just fine." Said Zeke, "Now blow before I stick this through you."

"Trust me, I would but that kick you left me did something bad. I've been pissing blood all night. And damn if I can walk." Said Melvin, crawling out of the morning sun for some shade."So what, Mr. Macho kick ass going to take care of the rover himself."

"That's about right." Said Zeke. He put the knife down seeing that Melvin was little of a threat, and that the man could barely move.

"Get yourself killed." Said Melvin.

"I can handle myself."

"Yes, if you can the first kick in, but if a skinny nigga like me can fuck you up that bad, what do you think a few bad ass rovers will do to your ass."

"I still owe you for that." Said Zeke touching his painful bruises.

"Look, man. I said peace and I meant peace. You kicked a nigga when he was down. That wasn't polite. That said, I came here with medical supplies for you nose and your teeth. Don't be a fool. You got some nasty cuts and if you ain't careful you'll get some bad infections. Besides that, you're already too damn ugly without the scars." Said Melvin.

"I don't want your charity." Said Zeke, "And I don't want your help."

Melvin tossed him the few medical supplies he had brought. "If you don't use some of this, your nose is going to blow up like a melon and so will your eyes. ANd you can forget about chewing cause your mouth will swell up. Won't be much good then will ya. "

Zeke opend up the supplies, found a stim pack and administered it. Then he found some of the other anticeptics. "I am not going to thank you for this."

"That's right. You lone wolf. That's why you're willing to protect your friends honor. But when you get your ass kicked a little because you're so heavy handed you leave her behind to take care of yourself. Big man."

"Vedpose can make her own mind up." Said Zeke. "If you want to lecture go elsewhere, I got no time for it."

"I bet it pisses you off she didn't come, don't it. Come out for you." Said Melvin

"Yeah, a little." Said Zeke.

"Yes. But that's the thing isn't it. You got to prove you the macho hero. But you got no sense. This isn't about one man or about your attitude. This isn't about you. But you got no sense to see that."

Zeke got up. "Look, I am tired of listening to you. Go find another rock."

"I would but I think I am done walking."

"Go, or I'll kick your ass." Said Zeke warning.

"Or you could kick my other nut into my throat. Don't you think it's your fucking kick that's doing this?"

"You shouldn't have mouthed off to my friend." Said Zeke.

"You should stop taking yourself so seriously." Said Melvin. "Listen. Don't be a fool. There are a group of people who are willing to take the Rovers as a group. You can go get yourself killed, but if you do that then you ain't a good friend to that woman. Or you could show you got some class and be a friend and someone people can trust. This ain't about you being super cool, this is about you being a brother."

"Go." Said Zeke, impatient now.

"Fuck you." Said Melvin, who was in too much pain to do more.

"Or I'll beat you like a bitch." Warned Zeke.

"Fuck you." Said Melvin.

Frustrated, Zeke got up and picked up Melvin. The black mad winched in pain, before Zeke could even hit him. Zeke noticed that the man was weak and even his skin was cold, despite the sun.

"What's the matter with you?" Said Zeke.

"Asshole, you fucked me up." Said Melvin.

Zeke looked down. There was blood trickling down Melvin's leg and the front of his pants were wet, not with sweat, but with blood.

"What's the hell?" Whispered Zeke, beginning to wonder how much damage he had done to Melvin.

Zeke let the man down more slowly. Indeed the man was bleeding and Zeke was beginning if Melvin might be bleeding worse internally. If so, than Melvin's efforts to save Zeke might have caused his wounds to get worse, and Melvin might be slowly bleeding to death.
 
Zeke was beginning to feel bad. He slowly laid Melvin down on the sand.

Ok man first of all can you find both of your nuts or are they in the abdominal cavity. Tell ya what man I didn't mean to get you this bad. Tell you what man you are pretty screwed up.

Melvin apparently couldn't find his balls and a hole in his sack was leaking blood. Zeke didn't exactly have a fun time rinsing the wound, but he owed it to Melvin. After wrapping Melvin in bandages around his waste and groin he picked up the unconscious man and began trudging back to camp. This would certainly ruin Zeke's plans, but Zeke knew he had acted far too rashly now seeing the damage he'd done to Melvin.

Hang tight man I'll get you back to a doctor.
 
OOC:i wonder where rob was during all this.......

IC:

Rob had missed out on this weeks exciting episode of some of the group finally loseing it,Rob really didn't care either since he hasn't had a good night sleep in ages until he woke to the cursing of a man outside his tent.

Rob quickly got up and gathered his things and headed out to see what it was and to his suprise it was Dwemer who had tripped over a rope on his way out of camp.

"well well.......what do we have here,what exactly are you doing?"asked Rob curiously

"I am going to try and reach Vault 15 on my own....this is my quest not the groups."replied Dwemer as he rose to his feet

"then I shall go with you.....I have already promised Caribe i will go with him to take care of things back home....but I will still go with you,I do not want a freind dieing out in wastes alone"Said Rob as he extended his arm
 
Dwemer shook his head. "No, you're sniper skills are needed here, with the rest of the crew. With Zeke gone and me on diversion, we're weaker. We'll need your sharpshooting when the action heats up."

"Bullshit." Said Rob.

"Yeah, probably," Said Dwemer, "But taking you along just makes my chances go down. One person has a better chance than two. Besides, I'm being hunted, not you. If the hunter comes after me, he might lose interest in the rest. So no go, compadre. But I appreciate the offer."

Rob was about to protest, but Dwemer was already heading out through the Viper lines. Before Rob could decide whether to follow the man or not, Dwemer had disappeared into the dark. Rob returned to camp thinking that he would probably not see the man again.

_________

As morning approached Melvin, now being carried by Zeke, were within sight of the camp.

Zeke was sweating hard. Despite the cold air of the desert, the weight of Melvin and their combined gear was taking it's toll. He had been forced to stop on a few occassions to catch his breath.

Melvin would have laughed if he could, but every moment hurt his testicles and Zeke had already warned him about blood loss.

Still Melvin couldn't help but mumble, in part because the loss of blood was making him slightly delirious.

"Imagine this. A black man being carried by a white man and not the other way around. What would my Grandma say." Mumbed Melvin.

Zeke thought it would be better to keep the man engaged in conversation. Unsure at how bad Melvin's situation, Zeke worried that perhaps if Melvin lost consciousness he might not regain it.

"What do you mean, a white man carrying a black?"

"Never happens in the vault. It's the white man's world." Said Melvin. "Segregation is what it's called. But now you're picking up the white man's burden."

"What white man's burden?" Asked Zeke.

"The uplifting of the inferior races. Is me. Maybe that's why you kicked me in the fucking nuts?" Asked Melvin.

"No I kicked you in the nuts because you were rude."

"Oh. No offense meant."

"So what about you and Dwemer?" Asked Zeke.

"The cookie! The black and white cookie, the place where black and white lives in harmony making but one great fucking cookie."

"You like cookies?" Asked Zeke.

"The don't suck."

"So Dwemer?" Continued Zeke.

"Dwemer not bad for a white guy. Big muthafucka. Good to have a big tough white muthafucka to watch your back. But he's innocent to the whole racial thing."

After that Mevlin's comments began to make even less sense. "Take care of my herb if I die man." He muttered at one point. "Got to shower the desert with a rain of love." "Dr Love Supreme,....poor girl's dream."

By the time Zeke reached camp, Melvin had almost lost consciousness.
 
Roadrunner came to the edge of the camp, simply thinking of the man called Brute, her protector and guardian... and perhaps love. Pressing her finger into the sand, sheneatly drew the a '1' and a '3'.

"Home of the 13. The unlucky number that would be our salvation." She muttered.

In the distance her spotted a figure carrying another. She smiled, though she knew that the one being carried, the other half of the cookie was in mortal danger.

"One seeks the other and the other brings his brother in arms back. Brothers indeed." She got up and walked towards them.

She stood their, like a mirage in the distance beaconing to Zeke and Melvin.

And for a brief moment, Melvin could have sworn he saw the nubian angel of his very dreams.
 
Zeke came trudging to within shouting distance of Roadrunner. Quick roadrunner go get Samantha she is a doctor.

Zeke was panting heavily as he got to within the perimiter, and set Melvin down in the sand gently before he sat down.............lay.....down.........passed......out.
 
Richard was torn from his sleep by yelling inside the camp. He quickly jumped into his pants and grabbed his pistols before heading out to see what all the fuss was about. Just as he came out he saw several people carrying Melvin into a tent. The black man looked pretty white...

Zeke was sitting with his back against the camps well. He looked as if he had been splashed by a couple of buckets of water. Now he was sitting quietly drinking some water.

Sam, Ved and the raiders doctor seemed to have their hands full with Melvin, so Richard decided to stay out of that tent and went hunting for information. Eventually it was Roadrunner who informed him about what had happened that night.

Richard could see their chances dwindle due to all this. Without Dwemer and Melvin, the assault on the outpost would become that much tougher. Richard paced outside the medical tent. They needed a plan and Richard might have one. He quickly went to search for Inne, who was now clearly the groupleader.

"I might have a plan for the assault, Inne. We need smoke and mirrors, a frontal assault would be suicide..." Richard said.

"I'm listening..." Inne patiently replied.

"Well, although it's a longshot and quite a risk, this might work: We gather up a group of people with mainly assaultrifles and maybe some Viper snipers, if they can be persuaded to participate. We send that group to marsh toward the main enemy encampment. The enemies scouts will report it, the outpost will send out some troops to attack our main assault group in the back and to help their main base. However, our main group turns around, starts marching towards the outpost, meeting the group that was send out of the outpost head on. Preferably even from an ambush position, if you find a suitable location quickly enough. The main enemy assaultforce would probably take up covert positions and wait for us, rather than come for us immediately. It should be too late for them to realise it was a trick to lure their friends out the outpost. The group coming from the outpost should be dispatched before the main enemy force can move in. Meanwhile, a select group of people and I make our way to the outpost, remain unseen as long as possible, try and take it over. If possible even take the forces that left the outpost to hunt you from behind as they are under fire." Richard explained while making crude drawing in the sand.

"I... I don't know." Inne said. Which was understandable, such discission should not be rushed.

"In doing so, we also create a window of opportunity for Dwemer. I would suggest our close quarters people come with me. I can silently take out advanced guards as we move in." Richard said as he gestured toward his silencers. "People with pistols or shotguns would not be that handy where you would be anyway, Inne. Rifles are what you need."

"I'll think about it." Inne said while still examining the drawings in the sand.

With people like Carib, Richard was sure he could handle the outpost, IF they were able to quietly silence the outposts guards before they could alarm any others...
 
Sam looked down at Melvin and took a damp cloth wiping his sweaty forehead. "He's unconscious. Bring the kit here," She directed one of the Viper medics to the small white box with the red cross on the cover.

"And bring that bottle of rotgut. It will have to do as a sterilizing agent."

She looked at Ved. "You were the best in class. Care to do the honors?" She handed the sewing kit and tweezer over to Ved.
 
Roadrunner found Inne and told her about Melvin being back in the camp with Zeek.
Inne went to see how the other women were doing on treating Melvins wounds. Since Sam and Ved seemed to be doing alright, Inne left the room. Docs need quiet and peace to work better, or so she thought.
Minutes later, Inne, siting on a bench outside the humble house where their friend was receiving medical care, was met by Richard.
He asked if she had thought about his proposal.
As a matter of fact, I did. And I think we need a considerable number of people to make it work. Luckily for us, we do have a number of people who can handle a rifle in this camp.
His face brightened.
Now this is to be arranged with Alex. But he understands the danger of the situation grows the longer we take, so I think he will not be long in giving us an answer.
Thanks.
The red haired nodded then stood up. Alex was coming.
Inne, you said you wanted to see me?
She nodded and he motioned to his house. Inne walked there with him.

OOC: Keep on ;)
 
The subtle rolling hills covered in dark sooty dirt. A bustle of people in the surrounding town. People who looked like and felt happy like the very sun that heated their faces warm to the touch of those who had not been to the place. This was the town of New Helian in what once known as central Oregon. It was Ved’s home growing up and the one place she would always want to be even after the events that unfolded there seven years ago. The dream of her homeland was one she often wished for but rarely received. Maybe the reason she dreamt of home tonight was the feelings of loss and resentment that she felt tonight were the same that often accompanied her thoughts of home.

Of course, she was stirred from her slumber by one of the Vipers who said that Sam needed everyone with medical training she could find. This obviously meant Ved. No had told her what had happen but when she got into the medical tent she found out. Zeke had seriously fucked over Melvin. The striking blow that Zeke had dealt him had partly ruptured one testicle and the other was no where in sight, from what Sam and her could tell Zeke had knocked it up into his body cavity. There was some serious hemorrhaging around both the visible testicle and the surrounding tissue. It was also apparent that he had lost a significant amount of blood.

Both Sam and Ved knew that this wasn’t going to be easy that it would for sure. Sam and Ved worked in unison and after several hours of work had Melvin back to stable condition. Vedpose wasn’t sure why Sam had allowed her to take a head kind of position on this operation. Perhaps, she felt Ved was more qualified, or perhaps Sam knew that Ved needed to being holding Melvin by the balls, in this case literally, to have him shut up about her and her sexuality, a private matter in Ved’s mind. Whatever the case was Vedpose felt that Sam was as much her equal as anyone else. It really didn’t matter the background and heritage of someone, whether they were the daughter of the head paladin or the daughter of a Doctor.

What mattered was what the person was about and who they were. Vedpose had kind viewed Sam as a spoiled girl, but in all reality she wasn’t. She had gone out it the world and done her own thing despite her father’s wishes. They had some different ideas about how to beast take care of themselves out here in the wastes, but through talking during the operation the two women got to know each other better and dare one say, formed a the beginnings of friendship. A rush of new thoughts and ideas flowed through the head of the one the gipsy had called the lost soul of the northlands as she finished the up on Melvin. Maybe there was more to friendship than survival, maybe people had friends as much to survive as they did to feel what being human was. Maybe loss and pain and regrets were all part of the journey that human beings were meant to go on, and maybe finding a way to cope with those feelings was as well. Vedpose said one final goodbye in her heart and mind for Zeke and finished the last switch in the long task that she hoped would shut that damned pervert Melvin up. After all she could hold this over his head if he decided to be an ass again.
 
OOC- what the hell do you mean one last goodbye for Zeke?

IC-

Zeke was feeling sick now. He had become very dehydrated from his march through the desert, and when he got back he drank almost a full half gallon of water. His stomach was aching.

Falling off of his cot to his knees he wretched and vomited on the dirt floor. Roadrunner walked up to his tent entrance and stood there silently.

Well? What do you need gypsy? Gonna tell my fortune?
 
Alex heard Zeke wretching, and his people had told him that Zeke had come in carrying Melvin. The newcomers were also missing one of their members.

It wasn't looking good.

Alex was growing impatient. His people were ready. They had relatively few firearms. Mostly just old rifles and handguns. Most of his people would fight with spears and knives. But he wanted to remove the Rovers from the Outpost as soon as possible. THe longer they wait, the stronger the Rovers became.

"Inne." Said Alex, "We need to move soon. Delay would be expensive. If we leave tonight, we can take the outpost by dawn. Then perhaps we can move on the Rovers main camp in force."
 
Rob had packed all his gear and headed over to the main square,the group and the viper soldiers were all there.Rob walked over to Caribe and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"so.....this is it eh?"said Rob
 
Carib felt the hand on his shoulder, "Yeah. Oh, and Rob."

"Yeah, Carib?"

"Don't put your hand on my shoulder. Force of habit nothin' personal." Carib cautioned, though he had a smile on his face. He liked the group, but he still didn't like people touching him. Last time he entered a casino and one of the guards placed his meaty hand on his shoulder. Carib broke the dude's fingers and cracked his ribs.

"Ready whenever you are Alex. Time to put some pain into some raiders."

Sam smiled from the nearby piller. "Ready to deal out death, eh?" She didn't ask in a mean way, she had gotten to know this outlaw, the Pirate known as Carib, and she did like him. He wasn't the monster she heard the Water Merchants mumble about. She still had some doubts, but she knew she could trust him in a fire fight.

The Nuka Cola peddler jucst chuckled. "Baby, they don't call me Full Metal Jacketed O'Reilly for nothin'. Besides... we keep what we kill. Wasteland rules"
 
Melvin stirred to wake up, his eyes still blurry, and he looked down to where the bandages wrapped his testicles and penis.

"My Gawd! They've taked my Johnson!" The black man cried out in despair.

Then ovecome with grief, he again passed out.
 
Carib heard the cry. It was the sound of despair, the kind when you've taken the very thing that makes a man, well a man.

Having pity for people wasn't something Carib indulged in, but Melvin's plight, he felt it. The temptation to cap Zeke was feeling all too real, but Carib knew that beef was squashed now and their was no reason to go back on that.

"I'll go see what Melvin needs." Carib volunteered. "Oh, and when we're ready to bust skulls, do call."
 
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