» Fri May 27, 2011 8:41 pm Chapter 1: Captive
Somewhere in DC; 45 miles North of Rivet City
Jackson looked through the pair of cracked binoculars. Yeah, there were super mutants, all right. All in that building; two on the second level, with hunting rifles; and a brute on the third level, holding a minigun close to the right side of his body. “We’re going to have to go some other way, guys. We got uglies up in that building over yonder.” Jackson said to the rest of the group, pointing at the infested building.
Jackson was a small but built young man, around the age of 22. He had been moving from place to place his whole life, trying to survive on the land. He wore a fedora hat, and a wastelander settler outfit. In hit belt was a single 10mm pistol, with three extra clips of ammunition.
Thomas, who was next to Jackson, said, “Lemme see them binoculars, Jack.” He handed them to Thomas, and looked through them to the same effect. Thomas growled in frustration. “Man, can’t we just go in, guns ablaze, and tear ‘em up?” Thomas had brown hair, up in a Mohawk, and was no older then nineteen. He was much taller, and still built, as he used to be a raider. However, he was kicked out of his gang after sparing some chick, and he joined up with Jackson.
“Nope. You know we have to get Michael out of here, safe and sound. He’s too much of an asset to lose.” Jackson looked back at Michael. He was an average build, but the best shot Jackson had ever seen. He could probably hit all those Mutants from here, no problem. However, a recent mercenary attack had left him crippled, and the trio were trying to get to Rivet City for medical attention..
“Plus,” Jackson continued, “Butch is asleep.” Jackson looked down at his dog that he had found a long time ago. They had traveled together until they met Thomas, and eventually Michael. Together, the four of them roamed the wastelands, looking for food and shelter, and just scraping by each day. The whole thing about Butch being asleep was a joke, but Thomas smiled at it, and was just fine with it.
Thomas looked back through the binoculars, looking at the Mutants again.
“Man, those guys are ugly. ‘Specially that one up on the top, trying to cover his ugly face with a mask of some sort.
"And--uh oh.” He paused. “Uhh, Jackson? We have a bit of a problem.” Jackson was patting Butch’s head when he looked up at the disturbance. “Yeah?”
“Take a look yourself,” Thomas said, and handed over the binoculars. Jackson looked through them, and Thomas pointed where to look. Through the magnifying lens, Jackson saw a captured female. Nice looking, too, save the fact she was coated in blood and grime; and that she was tied up on her feet, hands and mouth.
“Aww no…” Jackson said under his breath. “Dude, we gotta go save the damsel in distress.” Thomas said. Jackson mentally laughed at Thomas’ choice of word. ‘Dude’ was such an old word, something that only teenagers use.
“Go after her, I can hold up just fine.” Michael said, catching the other two by surprise. He still had his eyes closed, but had regained consciousness. “Alright Michael,” Jackson said, “If you say so.”
“Keep a good eye on Michael, will ya?” Thomas told Butch, who was still asleep. “Alright, Jack, let’s get in there before those Mutants do anything…nasty.”
“Thomas, keep behind me. I know how you like to go crazy and kill everything, but we’re trying to get in and out without attracting any attention, got that?” Thomas groaned, but nodded. Jackson and Thomas began their small trek toward the building, trying to keep low. Jackson had his 10mm pistol, and Thomas with his sawed-off. He preferred close-combat, while Jackson preferred no-combat.
They got to the base of the building without detection. Most of the building was gone, so there were lots of gaps where the Mutants could easily spot them. “Where was the chick, Thomas?” Jackson whispered as quietly as he could.
“I thought I saw her on the second level, but I’m not too sure.” Thomas replied, barely audible. Jackson sighed at this, and they moved into the building. They could both see a Super Mutant, not 10 yards in front of them, but he was busy looking through the window to notice. Jackson vowed that he would never come this close to an ugly again.
They both silently trekked up the stairs, trying not to make any noise. Luckily, the stairs were made of concrete, and did not creak nor make any noise. At the top of the stairs, Jackson looked all around, searching for the woman, but she was nowhere to be found. That meant she was on the top level, with the Minigun-armed Mutant. Just his luck.
They both slowly creeped behind the first Mutant, trying not to catch his attention. There was no sign of the second mutant, so they both thought they were home-free when they saw the set of stairs. However, a Mutant came from a doorway not far from the stairs. Jackson and Thomas slipped up the stairs as fast as they could without making noise. They looked back to see if there was any commotion, but there wasn’t, they were still undetected. At the top of the stairs, Jackson looked around for the Brute. He sighed when he couldn’t find him, but Thomas nudged him and pointed in the opposite direction. He was the mutant struggling with the chick, apparently trying to…well…I won’t say, but I think the reader knows what he was doing.
Thomas, apparently enraged, ran up behind the Brute, firing both shells into the Brute’s back. Jackson’s heart dropped and looked down the stairs to see both Mutants looking up at him. He started firing at the closest one, emptying an entire clip into the Mutant. Nearly at point blank, the Mutant stepped back with each shot, and toppled out of the window to the ground below.
Meanwhile, Thomas was reloading, and the Brute, caught unaware, was trying to get to his gun which he had left lying around when he was…doing business…with the captive.
Thomas put the shotgun to the Brute’s head, and blew the brains out of the back of the skull. Thomas quickly cursed the Brute, and untied the captive. The female captive was crying, and Thomas hefted her over his shoulder. He didn’t bother to reload, as he though Jackson had taken care of the other guys. However, he turned back to see Jackson on the ground, and his pistol halfway across the room.
A Super Mutant had a hunting rife pointed at his head, and Thomas’ stomach dropped. Jackson was a dead man. Jackson was visibly shaking with fear, and Thomas felt like a useless tool. Thomas closed his eyes, and heard a loud shot. His heart sank, and slowly opened up his eyes. He found the Mutant, on the floor, without a head. “What the hell was that!?” Jackson yelled, his voice shaking.
Possibilities raced through Thomas’ head, then he found the answer. “Michael, you son of a [censored]!” Thomas yelled, laughing all the while. He helped Jackson up, and they both went back to the encampment, where they saw Michael with his sniper rifle next to him. They both thanked them for saving their lives, and they set the girl down. Thomas started asking all these questions, but Jackson said, “Let her rest, then we can talk. I think we all need a rest.” Everyone agreed on that, except Butch, who was jumping around and all excited because of the shooting that was going on. Soon, everyone except Butch was asleep, and Butch watched over the group while they rested and regained their energy.
