» Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:41 am
Chapter 2
I walked along the cracked and broken road as the wasteland sun beat down on the scorched earth, and myself. I could see in the distance that a Radscorpion and another Radscorpion were fighting over a piece of a rotting wastelander. His or her body was badly decomposed, and luckily the small breeze was flowing away from me, rather towards me.
I continued on, looking around the depressing sea of brown and death as the Radscorpion’s continued to fight over the rotting wastelander. I quickly lost sight of the two as I quickened my pace as the roaring sound of a Yao Guai echoed through a busted causeway bridge. Although I had fought many Yao Guai in the past, this was something I couldn’t take with a six-shooter or a small hand-held shotgun. Their large claw’s and teeth were something to fear in the wasteland. In the past, I had been hired by a small caravaner and his guard to assist with their trek to New Orleans. I guess they had heard of me from word of mouth at a bar in St. Louis I frequented when I worked in the mid-west.
The caravaner and the guard had payed good. To bad they didn’t take my advise during the night, and were killed by a group of Yao Guai that was passing through. I had not been at the small camp with the caravaner and guard because I knew that the fire would attract Yao Guai or even worse creatures or vermin. They had been attacked during the night, and were given no help by me. By that time, I had done my share of bad jobs, and learned what not to do when traveling to New Orleans (New Orleans was a terrible place to travel). The Yao Guai gave the caravaner and guard no chance of escape or breath to defend them-self's. The Yao Guai tore them to pieces, and even killed the two Brahmin that were carrying the caravaner's goods.
After the Yao Guai had left, and the camp burned in the early morning sunlight. I returned, and took all I could carry. I had buried the caravaner and guard along with their two Brahmin after I packed what I could. I had placed the extra goods and junk on a tarp which I dragged all the way to New Orleans. I had a great time getting the profit, but I with unrestrainted joy, spent it all on booze and cheap women until I was down to my last twelve caps.
Back on the road I could see Big Town in sight. Its defenses were little to none, and the walls that surrounded the town, could easily be knocked down by a Super Mutant or some other wasteland creature. I could hear some people talking as I walked around the walls, and saw a small bridge that lead into Big Town. A man in a officer’s helmet, and cheap leather armor stopped me suddenly.
“Who are you? What is your business in Big Town? I will kill you if I have to!” the man said as two others wearing cheap beaten Brahmin clothes approached, weapons drawn.
“I’ve just come to trade. I heard about Big Town, and thought it could use some trading?” I looked around as two more people approached. This was starting to look like it was going to be easy. Fear usually messed with someone’s thoughts and actions during times like this. I could have easily killed them all without blinking, but I was here to capture them and kill some maybe.
“If you don’t mind, you will have a guard following you during your stay here in Big Town.” The man in the police helmet said holding his old rifle at me. Not a friendly action.
“Sure? I don’t mind being followed around. Is the guard going to watch me eat and sleep as well?”
“Yes!”
“Ok. I don’t mind?”
I walked off the creaky small bridge and was escorted by a small guy named Shorty. The whole place of Big Town was nothing more than a few beaten old houses, and a few piles of junk used to probably fix problems in the already weak defensive walls. I was escorted by Shorty to the Club House. Several bunk beds, and regular beds were placed across the walls of the room. I looked at Shorty, his black hair, and tough guy attitude made him look more like a [censored], than a tough wastelander.
“Where do you sleep, Shorty?” He pointed to a small mattress on the floor. It was filthy, and was stained.
“Thats some bed! Where do I sleep?” I asked looking around. I really didn’t want to sleep here, but I would have to observe and gain their trust before I did my killing.
“Over there. The second bunk.” Shorty said grabbing for my duffle bag. I quickly pulled away, giving him a stern glare. He stepped back, holding his six-shooter to my stomach.
“I have to check for anything that could be harmful. Please?” He said in a tough tone, but with a young teenage voice.
“No one is checking my bag. I will do it myself, I don’t trust anyone with my things. Understand little boy!”
Shorty looked at me, pulling the hammer back on his six-shooter. I stood with a smirk on my face as I laid the duffle bag on the floor, and unzipped the already screwed up zipper. I pulled out my sawed-off shotgun, and then closed the duffle bag.
“What else do you have in there? Everything has to be taken out. I don’t trust you!” Shorty looked at me, trying to intimidate me with his six-shooter. I held out the sawed-off shotgun to Shorty, as he quickly let his guard down. I reached for my six-shooter, placed at my side. I quickly pulled the hammer back, and fired three shots into Shorty. He fell to the ground as the smoking barrel of my six-shooter sizzled a bit before I heard a commotion outside. Before I could open the door, several rifle and pistol rounds shot through the door, and through the thing walls.
“Holy [censored]!” I yelled to myself as I fell backwards on my ass. I fired several more rounds through the door, not hitting anyone I don’t think. The gun fire erupted once more and I took cover behind another wall. I heard footsteps approach the door. It was the man with the police helmet.
“Shorty are you alright? We heard gunshots. Is the stranger alive?” The man asked as he placed his hand on the busted door knob that had been shot several times. I looked around and grabbed Shorty’s six-shooter, and any ammo he had on him. I took cover behind the wall once more.
“Yeah I’m alive, but your friend Shorty ate three of my lead friends. You shouldn’t try to kill me or I might be forced to kill you! And we don’t want that do we?” I said looking at the door knob.
The knob spun around even though it was not needed, the door knob was hanging on the door, nothing really holding it up. I checked my revolver, and quickly cracked it open as I took out the spent rounds, and placing new one’s in. I grabbed my sawed-off shotgun and placed the revolver in the holster. I pointed the shotgun at the door waiting for them to open it. I was sweating a bit, but it had been awhile since I had last had a stand-off with a group of townies.
“We’re coming in! If you shoot at us, you will die in there. Do you understand wastelander!” the man with the police helmet said in a stuttering worried tone. He was no man, but just a young advlt. So much could have worked for him, but he had come across me, and I was not a kind person.
“Thats fine. If you come in here, I promise you that you and your friends will die. Just lay down your weapons and step back from the door or I will blast you all without a flinch!” I heard the footsteps step away from the door, and could hear them placing their weapons on the ground. Idiots.
I rushed out the door. Revolver in hand, and my shotgun ready for action. I shot a woman in a red jump suit in the knee, shattering it instantly. She fell to the ground crying out as I fired my revolver at the police man. I shot him in the thigh, and another in the shin. A blonde young man tried to reach for his gun, but I unleashed a barrel from my shotgun, blowing his brains and skull all over his friends. The others stood shaking in fear as I kicked their weapons away, and walked off throwing them into a fire.
“What are you going to do with us?” a woman said in beaten leather armor.
“Help your friends, and I want some rope. You are know slaves to Paradise Falls. Hurry and help your friends. We have away to go till we reach Paradise Falls.” I said reloading my revolver, and replacing the shotgun shell with another. The woman in red cried out even louder as they tried to place her on a stretcher. The police man was in shock, and did nothing but lay there on the ground. After a few hours of prepping them to move. I chained the two able bodied Big Town resisdence in the Club house while I rested in the "hospital". Tomorrow we would move out to Paradise Falls, and I would gain my reward.