Vault 15! (Wastelands Chapter 3)

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When Caribe slipped into the tent, he could see that Melvin had passed out, a sheen of sweat on the man's brow wetting his afro.

Caribe found a nearby rag, dipped it in water and mopped the man's head.

Melvin's eyes flickered open. "Brother. They took my Johnson. I'm not a man anymore."

Caribe shook his head. "Your pecker is fine. It was your nuts that got knocked in."

"I lost my nuts? my mojo is lost?"

"No, Sam and Ved worked on you and repaired the damage. You'll still be able to get your groove on. The girls saved your balls." Said Caribe.

"I always knew them ladies wanted to play with Melvin's privates. Just I wish they might've....." But then Melvin passed out again.
 
"Yow, Carib." Richard said as he entered the tent.

"Yeah, what is it?" Carib answered..

Richard gave a quick nod at Melvin, only realising too late that the attempt was futile since he was knocked out.

"I need to talk to you for a sec." Richard said as he gestured outside.

The two men walked towards the camps' well and Richard took a quick drink.

"I don't know if you heard my plan yet, but if it goes like I planned we'll be splitting up in two groups. One group with mostly long range weapons, rifles, pistols and the like & a second group with short ranged weapons, mostly pistols and melee weapons. Group one draws em out, group two remains unseen as long as possible and takes the outpost that should be guarded by a skeleton crew. Or so I hope." Richard explained.

"So? What about it?" Carib answered slightly pressed to go see Melvin asap.

"If the plan gets approved by Inne and Alex, I'd like you to come with me on group two. Of course, that would mean you won't be there to watch Inne's back... Anyhow, the real reason why I'd like you to accompany me, is simple: you're the only one I feel I can really trust with this." Richard said as he tapped on his left shoulderholster.

Of course there were some others he wouldn't think twice to loan his pistol out to, but Sam had her assaultrifle, Dwemer was gone, Melvin was wounded and so on. Besides, Carib was probably the most skilled with pistols anyway.

"If we want to take full advantage of a surprise attack, we'll need to stay silent as long as possible. Meaning it's best to maximise the silenced pistols' potential." Richard said. " Two shooters are better than one. "

Richard unholstered his left pistol, screwed on the silencer, grabbed a couple of clips in his pack and offered them to Carib.

"Are you game?" He asked.
 
Carib tapped his chin, reviewing, Richard's plan. It made sense, both tactically, brilliant actually. The only part Carib didn't like was not being able to watch Inne's back. Despite his budding females for the fiery haired bounty hunter, O'Reilly knew in his heart that Richard's plan was the most effective, and the fact that Richie had faith in him was enough to convince him.

Again, the power of reasoning.

"Good plan, Rich." Carib gave Richard a pat on the shoulder. As he walked off, he turned and spoke to Richard, "Inne is a big girl, she can take care of herself."

He accepted the pistol. "I got your back, Richard. I don't have to ask you to watch mine. Perhaps during the mission, we can play: 'Whose the Better Killer?'"
 
"Perhaps during the mission, we can play: 'Whose the Better Killer?'"
Daniel heard that as he slowley walked into the room.
"Do y'all mind if 'ol Daniel joins y'all on the outpost attack ?" Ive got a knife, and have some experince in using it quietly. Plus once the base is alerted odds are it'll be close range fighting. A shotgun is good for that."
 
Rob had heard the chit chat between Caribe and Richard.

"Caribe.don't worry about Inne,even if she can take care of herself i'll still keep an eye on her and make sure shes in one piece when ya come back"

"Thanks,but why?"

"Like i said back in Shady Sands,we are brothers of the same course we gotta look out for each.I hope you will see that one day"
 
Ved planned on making it more than clear that she wouldn’t hesitate to chop the whole male defining gender parts she had to just helped to save if Melvin so much as made an indirect implication about her personal and private sexual life. She had offered to stick around and watch over Melvin’s signs, most because she wanted to let him know how much he owed her, and therefore better not say a word to her ever again. But she was also there because a dark and twisted part of her wanted to be there if he died. Maybe it was the same impulse that most humans had, wanting to look into the eyes of those they despised and some how come off with a feeling of great pleasure. In any case with he did decide to go down there was nothing either her or Sam could do. They had done what they could, but their skill had minimized any permanent defect, including reproductive and of course that lovely final embrace of death.

She hadn’t really been able to see what was going in the camp, mainly she was just trying to keep awake somewhat encase something important did happen, but apparently Caribe and Rich were formulating something with Inne. Whatever was going on she was ready to roll out and Melvin probably could if need be or if he wanted to but she really didn’t give a damn about where he was as long as it was as far away from her as possible. Some how as she stared out the tent window at the stars she couldn’t help but wonder what Zeke was doing at the same moment. Probably dead by now she thought, but that was the way the 20 die rolled sometimes. Little did she know that Zeke was standing within 50 meters of her at that very same moment. Fate was a strange thing. It tied you something even when you tried to run or so the story seemed to go.
 
Despite Melvin's protest, Sam was insistent that he not leave.

Melvin had lost too much blood during the operation. Although Sam and Ved had administered him super stims, their supplies were insufficient to get Melvin back to a point where he would be able to fight in their next engagement. He would remain back with Vipers during a period or recuperation.

When Sam left, and Vedpose was looking through his vitals, but he could see that the woman was still scowling at her.

Melvin was well aware that his pursuit of "his biological perogative" had made him enemies, but this had been mostly of men with women that they were not satisfying. Even the women who would rebuff his advances would, after some time and after getting to know him better, become friendly.

There was a clear definition. There were some women who wanted to do the tango of love with you, and some women who don't. Right or wrong, foolish or wise, some women had decided that they just didn't want to experience the Love Supreme. And while Melvin thought it a shame that they miss such a transcendental pseudo religious experience, Melvin was also aware that it was important to respect boundaries. Without respect there could be no love.

And thus was the secret of Melvin's sexual prowess.

There was no deceit, no lie, no trickery. He was wholly transparent and dedicated to his one true mission in life- to spread his seed and become a master of the tantric and kama sutra. This was not merely a physical skill, an ego boost or a desire to receive physical and emotional gratification. FOr Melvin this was almost a religious experience, the opportunity to touch base with the origins of all life and beauty and love, it was spiritually uplifting and nurturing. The opportunity to touch bases with the essence of being in the moment of orgasm.

True, if need be, Melvin could kill but he was, in his heart, a lover and not a fighter, and of all things he loved, women were the most divine.

ANd so Vedpose's consistent disgust with him was not only confusing but spiritually dissatisfying.

"Ved." Said Mevlin, his voice more serious than Ved had heard before, "I need to know something. Why do you hate me so much?"

"Because you're a perverted waste of humankind."

"True, but that doesn't explain why you hate me so much."
 
“Sure it does. Do you remember the first thing you ever said to me?”

“Yeah. I said that you looked like you could use a dose of medicine from doctor love supreme.”

“Right, you know what else? You didn’t even introduce yourself. You didn’t ask my name. But of course you treated yourself as if you were some kind of god who was extending his hand to the poor concubines of the world who needed “true love”. But you know what; I don’t even think you know what true love is. You just flaunt your sexuality around expecting it to fix all the problems in the world, because you are, of course, the god of divine sexuality to women everywhere. You’re so fucking vein, talking about your supreme love. But still you don’t know what love really is; what sexuality is. But of course the very thing that you don’t have a clue about is the thing that you feel everyone else should use to fix their problems as well as your own.”

“Okay what is real love then?”

“What you want me to show you because you need another fix you fucking pervert? That isn’t the way that actual honest romantic love works even if I wanted your nasty perversion of love, oh excuse me, lust.”

“No, I want you to explain it”

“Explain it. Damn you are dense. Do you think that the feelings and emotions that go along with actually love can be expressed in words? They can’t be. It something that the two people involved can only know about. It is private and personal and deeper than anything you have even dreamt of. They are no words that can describe it. Even if you used every word in every language ever spoken and invented as many as you could yourself, you could still never come close to a combination words that describe it.” Vedpose looked different now. The angered and tires look she had been wearing had faded into a wispy sort of look, like the clouds that graced the presence of the sky on those rare occasions. It was a look of remembrance and dare one say unbounded happiness. Melvin looked up at her face and realized in some sort of way she was right. He had never truly experienced the love that her face was showing; maybe he wanted it, who knew. Still Vedpose hadn’t really answered his question the way he had wanted her to so he should probably ask it again.

“So why do you hate again?” Ved’s face immediately changed back to that look of disgust.

“Because you’re shallow and vein and won’t keep out my personal life.”

“Okay, how’s ‘bout we make a deal? I stay out your personal business and you give me a second chance to prove I’m not what you think.”

“No, here’s the deal; you stay out of my personal life or I’ll redo all the damage Zeke did plus add some of my own.” Vedpose was becoming a bit infuriated and went back to the chair to check over her gear.

“So how ‘bout my second chance?”

“If you leave me alone for awhile you might just get it, now shut the hell up.”
 
Roadrunner peered down at Zeke. She just smiled, much like a child in rag tag clothing and bangles with some stuffed animal attached to her waist along with an adaged .44 Revolver Remington.

"I didn't come to read your future... or fortune. I just came to extend a hand." She strecthed out her small hand to Zeke, "Come... whether you know it or not, you are needed... and none here bare you ill will. Though I sense anger... and guilt in you, I say that its alright. So come. Your comrade Ved and the rest need you now."
 
Dwemer had traveled for most of a day, and for a few hours he felt that the presence that watched him was gone. In those few hours he felt at peace. The wasteland might be full of treacherous beasts, mutants made of radiation and biological hazards, but at least the world work the way it did.

By morning the presence was back. He tried to look for it through his binoculars, but he couldn't see any spies. But they were there. It was watching him.

He continued East.

In the afternoon he stopped by a stream in that flowed through a ruined village that hugged the side of a rocky mountain. Following the stream he found it connected to a broken waterpipe that continued to pour water. No matter, it would do.

He used the water to mop his hair, his neck, his body, giving cooling relief. He refilled his canteens and found and looked for a bit of shade to hide under for the harshest sun of the day.

He gaze swept over the horizon, and that's where he saw them.

Two figures, in black, moving in his direction.

Probably Rovers sent to grab or kill him. Tired he considered setting a trap for the two, but he had little faith in traps or his ability to set them.

Using the shade and cover he could, he moved to a better position, drawing his rifle. When he found a suitable perch, he lay down to wait, taking the time for his prey to come into range to clean his weapons.
 
After the discussion of battle tactics, Carib just strolled back to the small doctor's house. The viper children were scurrying about, some occassional nearlyt bumping into the gangster.

Children. It reminded him of his brother. How they'd play along the fence and amongst the burnt out houses. Playing games of adventure, knowing little they'd become part of one. Carib had no idea he'd become a pirate or a contract man. Funny how life deals you out odd hands, yet you just learn to make the most of it. Of course much changed since he hooked up with the Vault Dwellers and of course, Inne.

Heading towards the well, Carib drew two large mugs of water. One for Melvin and one for his reluctant 'savior', Vedpose. Letting the bucket slam back down into the watery abyss below, Carib set off on his mission.

As he neared the building he could make out voices.

“So how ‘bout my second chance?”

“If you leave me alone for awhile you might just get it, now shut the hell up.”

Carib walked in, getting both heads turned towards him. "Ah, truer words haven't been spoken." He said closing the door behind him with his heel.

Ved stared and Melvin gave a sheepish smile. "Well, Ol' Love Supreme has been humbled. Such is the way of makin' peace."

"Right," Carib said not caring about Melvin's Sexual Philosphy, "Here, rap your lips around this," he handed Ved the first cup, as awlays observing the lady's first rule, and secondly gave Melvin his cup, firmly placing it in his hand and helping him to sip.

"Oh... and thanks Ved for patching this fool up." Carib said, giving a geniuine nod.
 
At that particular moment Zeke would remember for the rest of his life a halo of light seemed to emmit from behind the odd gypsy and through it he could almost see wings. White pure wings of innocence and purity.

Mindlessly he grasped her hand and lifted himself to his feet. A mindless stare was all Zeke could muster, and for a moment he said nothing.

In a moment of disbelief he rubbed his eyes, and to his great detriment the light and wings were gone.................

Uhh where is it again you said you wanted me to go Roadrunner?
 
She smiled before moving her lips, "Come, your ally awaits you. We must go see Melvin and Ved. Your return will bring comfort to her." She guided him, the way a child would guide a parent.

"But we must make haste. Peace must be made before we aid Brute... The future is very uncertain and not even the most trained can see beyond a point."
 
Roadrunner flew through the tent flap followed a split second later by Zeke. They stood in the center of the tent with Melvin, Carib, and Vedpose.

Uhhh......Hi Ved............Carib....Melvin........
 
Carib surpressed the urge to draw his weapon and blast off Zeke's knee caps. Was it honor? Maybe. After all, Zeke did save Melvin's life and for what it was worth, perhaps things did get carried away from everyones end. Then again, Carib wasn't the one to care much for people's problems.

"Zeke." Carib said, getting up. He didn't much want to stay around the big guy.

He gave a nod to Roadrunner and Ved before leaving and gave Melvin a light punch on his shoulder, from which he winced.

Carib snickered and began to walk out.
 
“What’s this Caribe?” Ved was motioning to the drink.

“It’s fine, just plain old water,” Caribe replied.

“Thanks” she replied before Caribe walked out the room.

Ved looked up at Zeke a moment. “You know, I don’t remember you being so ugly this morning.” The two friends laughed for a moment. She was obliviously kidding

“Yeah, I think it was the repercussions of that little incident before I took off.”

“Really? Who would have thought that? You do realize that I am more capable of taking care of myself, Zeke?”

“Yeah, I’m aware, but no one talks to my fucking friend like that.”

“I am really your friend Zeke? I mean, you took off in a raging storm after you had gotten into a confrontation over me. I mean, did out even think about how all this made me feel when you were out there.” A strange feeling of guiltiness still hung over the mind of Ved. It seemed that she was always the reason that Zeke was getting into trouble. The only reason Zeke was here now was the fact he had offered to travel with her to Shady Sands. And yet again what series of strange interconnected events had to take place for everyone in this group to be here now. It was honestly like they were just elaborate pieces played out in the sight of fate.

“Yeah I fucking thought about it. But what about you? Did you even make an attempt to come after me?”

“No I didn’t make an attempt. You went completely off the wall. What do expect me to act out of blind impulse like you? Fucking hell, don’t you think that I didn’t think about shooting Melvin? Because I did, but I had enough control over myself that I didn’t go through with it.” Their voices continued increase intensity and by this point the entire camp probably could here it.

“Oh, so what? Now you’re better than me?”

“Damn you twos be sounding like one them married couples grandma be telling us about….”

“Shut the fuck up”

“No doubt, ‘Mr. I would like a second chance.’” Melvin was silenced, especially after his thoughts fully caught with his mouth.

“No I am not saying that I am better than anyone else. What I am trying to say is that you’re a ballistic missile that is ready go off at moment. And like that missile you destroy everything. Even when you go off to save those you care about you end up hurting everyone, including me the supposed protected one.”

Zeke broke into laughter. “You know you’re right.” Zeke had known it along, but maybe, just maybe, he wanted to here it from Vedpose before he admitted.

“So we’re still buddy pal friends, right?”

Vedpose rolled her eyes and shook her head that weird kind of slightly bewilder way, but she was smiling. “Yeeesss, we’re still friends.” And just like that the two went from screaming at the tops of their lungs to politely speaking again. Maybe in some strange way that had just formed because it could, the two understood each other on higher level than they should, but who honestly who knew.

Vedpose gathered up her gear and head towards the door and towards Zeke. She gave him a little punch on the shoulder, the kind that many people see close relatives like brothers and sisters exchange. Maybe that was the best comparison for the type of relationship the two shared.

Looking out the window one could see that a crowd had formed. Ved didn’t really care about that though. She had no reason to stay her any longer and neither did the Vipers. As Ved headed out the door, she turned back to Zeke “I don’t know about you, but I am leaving for this little mission with or without everyone else.”
 
OCC- Deleted double post. Nice posts folks. TIme to move this along.

IC-

Dwemer waited until the two men were well within, letting his breathing and heartrate calm while got comfortable taking aim.

The report of the rifle was a sharp crack in the stillness of the waste. One figure crumpled like a bag of sand.

Dwemer moved to fire on the second, but he had ducked down behind a low rise of ground.

If he had a radio, the man would call in support, a danger that increased with each moment the man stayed alive.

Dwemer reached for his pistol and moved, knowing that his sniper's perch had been discovered.

Quickly he moved down into the lower floor of the ruined structure, careful to make use of shadow and cover, down and low past windowns, crawling where he had to.

He had chosen his site well. There were only a few avenues to approach that were clear and covered from the survivor's position.

Now his heart was racing. The hunt was on. Two predators stalking each other. Whoever got the first shot, would win.

Moving through the buildings now, quickly and as carefully as he could. The stillness of the waste broken by the beat of his heart in his ears.

Dwemer slipped through ruined buildings, practically running past empty rooms and broken doors, through one building than another, closing on his prey.

Almost there, through a door.

Wham.

Sharp pain in his arm, shoulder, sending him down, dizzy, rolling away. Dwemer glances up.

The other rover, a man dressed in black, lifts a club high over his head to strike. Dwemer rolls to avoid the blow he can't stop.
The man lifts the club again, kicking out at Dwemer with his foot. THe foot connects with Dwemer's midsection in another burst of sharp pain. But now surprise is lost and Dwemer's hands are on his pistol. He points it up.

Fires once, the bullet hitting the wall behind the man.
Fires again, and catchs the man in the shoulder.

Fires twice more. One bullet misses and disappears, the second punches a bloody hole in the man's stomach. His body collapses with the club.

Dwemer catches his breath. His shoulder and abdomen sting in pain. But the blow fell on a muscled part of the arm, it is not broken. The unpleasantness of the pain to his midrift will ease.

Dwemer gets up and searches the body for useful items. He removes the black bandana that covers the face. It is a woman. This makes him think of Inne, Sam, Ved, but mostly Roadrunner. Guilt.

He shakes the feeling away, and removes the ammunition of the woman, food and few medical supplies, than the clothes that wrap around the woman's hair. No radio.

Finished, he moves out to where the first kill lies. The shot landed as expected, a headshot that killed quickly. Again, ammunition, food, medical supplies. This time a radio.

He wraps the head wound up to avoid spillage, then carries the body to where the second lie. THere he strips it of it's garments. He will use these to disguise himself. As quickly as possible he covers both with debries and dirt. Hopefully the dirt will keep the wasteland scavengers away.

WHen he is finished burying the bodies, he moves away and continues onward. THe presence is still watching him. Dwemer worries that the presence can read his mind and knows his plan.

An hour later, he looks through his binoculars. Two men in black follow from the west, two more from the north, further away. Far to the south two more. They are closing in.

But it will be dark soon, and perhaps the dark will shade his movements.
 
As Inne gathered with the Viper leader, and they discussed their plan of attack, Carib, Vedpose, Roadrunner along with Daniel and Richard came along with the Viper crew of six sharphooters.

"It is settled then," Alex said, "I along with six of my best snipers will accompany you Inne and Sam," He made a gesture towards the Half Indian Sam Solo.

"Richard is taking Carib down with him along with Daniel..." Inne looked towards Carib, and a small attraction began to build and all Inne could do was look away. She enjoyed his company, had gotten to know the rough edged man from the Boneyard and now she didn't want to see him out of her sight for a minute.

Richard spoke up, "Melvin is out... so if anyone else would like to come, we could use the extra gun." He looked to Vedpose and Zeke.

"TIme is of the essence," Roadrunner spoke up, her voice low and almost prophetic, "we must make haste, lest we aid our comrade, Brute."
 
"Easy, Captain Corpse," Carib raised his hand, "The Gypsy says we gotta move so I make this easy," He walked towards Zeke standing between him and Vedpose.

"I don't like you much Zeke, but I gotta say you're the man I want on my side. Namely cause you are one bad mother fucka, and that you seem to be pretty hand at close quarters. So... you come with me, Daniel and Richard and we go bust some skulls. And for that, you and I are cool. Ved, can be out of harms way - not that I am belitting your abilities; you are a very capable woman - but I am sure she can do better with the snipers and perhaps offer some insight. Of course, if you have any objections, Ved, feel free to let them be known."

He waited for an answer, but perhaps the honesty in it all would perhaps further the peace process. Carib just needed this done quickly. Dwemer maybe in peril and the Nuka COla man wasn't about to leave him behind to die. Funny thing was, Carib believed that Brute would have done the same for him, and he owed it to Melvin... and to her. To Inne.

The look of red hair in the afternoon was enough to melt any man's heart. She was taking charge and that impressed Carib all the more. After all this was done, Carib would go find his brother and see if he was alright. But the main concern was heading south was dangerous. Rumors of a bounty hunters haunt Carib's steps and though he has dealt with them in the past, you never know what the latest contract could be worth.

"So, we all come to a decision or do I have to decide?"
 
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