» Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:46 pm As usualy I appreciate your comments/criticism, etc.
Enjoy
Fallout: Murder City
"Man, if we get outta this thing, I want you to come to the States. I'll show you some stuff that you'll never believe."
"No way, my friend. I'm told in the States they shoot Communists in the streets."
"Hell, man. In Detroit, my hometown, they shoot EVERYBODY in the streets!"
-A Pre War movie.
War. War never changes. Only the tools changed. The ferocity, the strategies remained unchanged after millennia's. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the area of Detroit. Two centuries before the Great War, a war was fought there between two young nations. A stalemate resulted and eventually peace flourished between these two nations. Later amity predictably turned to enmity. The United States annexed Canada, two and a half centuries after their first attempt. This annexation was not accomplished without reply. Open insurrection resulted and blood was spilled. Nowhere was this struggle more violent than in Detroit, where the border was but an imaginary line. Much blood was spilled as neighbors, friends became deadly enemies. The Great War covered the land like a shroud and silenced reigned. For a time.
Chapter 1
The cold wind blew bitterly, carrying with it uncounted particles of debris. The fall's frost covered the land with a thin, pristine white coating. It was an insult to the devastation that littered the land. Everywhere destruction and devastation stood. Buildings that had once touched the sky now stood disemboweled and dismembered. Many of these had collapsed or burned down, causing further destruction. Houses that had once housed families happy and sad alike housed little other than cockroaches and other insects. Detroit. The Motor City. A city that produced wonders of music and technological wonders. Now produced little other than suffering. 100 years after the Great War. Life, as fragile as it is precious, was slowly, precariously staking a claim on the land.
A lone figure walked alone, between rows of incinerated cars. It moved with calculated strides, with feline grace and precision. It never lingered in one spot for more than a few instants. It always moved smartly, never straying beyond cover for anything longer than fractions of a second. It was not quite dawn. It was best to move at this time. Those who roamed the nights tended to retire at this time. Those who roamed the day weren't quite awake.
The figure wore boots, pants, jacket, face wrap and goggles. The figure was outfitted completely in grey. When the snow fell, it was soon covered by ashes or other debris. Dressing in white would be a dead giveaway. The figure wielded a modified Kalashnikov, slung over the shoulder and a sheathed combat knife.
The figure stopped at a street corner, its destination just a few miles away. The last part of its journey would be the most hazardous. There was little to no cover the rest of the way. It crouched and scanned the horizon and surroundings, looking for traces of life, human or otherwise. No heat blooms, no footprints, no recently upturned debris. There were a handful of torched cars and incinerated homes. But there was no movement. The figure searched and its eyes found a ditch alongside the road that led to its destination. It stepped beyond the cover and crawled towards the ditch, a few meters away.
"Don't move!" A hoarse voice, behind and above her, warned. The figure said nothing.
"It's alright, boys. Come on out, we got ourselves a live one."
Armed Ghouls appeared from out behind various places of cover, and nearby homes. They surrounded the figure, prone on the ground, immobile.
"Get up. Slowly. Keep your arms where we can see him."
The figure slowly stood up, spreading out its arms. The figure cautiously looked around, seeing 8 ghouls around her. Four were armed with Kalashnikovs, 2 with Lee Enfield rifles and the last two with laser rifles. The leader wore a red toque on its head but otherwise the ghouls were dressed wearing only autumn clothes.
"Get his gun."
A ghoul stepped behind the figure, cut the gun's strap with a knife and retrieved it. It also retrieved the figure's knife.
"That's the problem with these goggles. They only detect body heat." The Ghoul leader said as he seized the figure's goggles.A pair of light blue eyes stared coldly at the ghoul.
"Wait a minute..." The leader said and began undoing the figure's face wrap.
There were exclamations of surprise and joy when the unwrapped revealed a young, feminine face. It stared at them with eyes as cold, calculating and fearless as that of a polar bear's. Her eyes were constantly moving, scanning, assessing.
"Hey boys! Ain't she pretty?" The leader said.
"She's a real sight for sore bones!" Said another.
"I think we got ourselves some entertainment!" Another exclaimed.
"Alright. We'll chain her up. I get first dibs!" The leader announced.
"Hey [censored] you, man. You always go first! We always get the sloppy seconds." A ghoul standing behind the woman said.
"That's because I'm the leader [censored] face. You got a problem with that?" The leader shot back, levelling a deathly gaze at his insubordinate underling.
"Yeah I do, actually." The rebellious ghoul said. "You couldn't lead your [censored] to a toilet bowl. I think it's time to spread the wealth more. What do you think, guys?"
There were 6 nods of agreement.
"You [censored] pricks. I'm gonna teach...." The leader scowled and was about to excoriate his underlings when the girl struck. She punched the ghoul leader in his throat, she grabbed a pistol from his belt, and then used his shoulders to leap over him. Using his body as a shield she fired a quick burst at a ghoul, ending his existence, then whirled sideways, firing another burst at a ghoul struggling to aim his rifle. Two down, six to go.
Using the leader's body as a shield she ran forward, smashing his body into another ghoul's and knocking him to the ground. She spun around, still holding onto the lead ghoul and his body absorbed a few laser and bullet rounds. She fired a few bullets into the ghoul who'd been knocked on the ground. Four to go.
She leapt behind a car as bullets ricocheted around her. She heard their angry cries, allowing her to divine their position.
"[censored] it! Flank her! I said flank her!"
"[censored] you! I'm in charge now!"
A burst of automatic fire ensued but no bullets ricocheted near her. She peeked beyond cover and fired a burst at a ghoul who hadn't taken cover. She ducked behind the car. She unloaded the pistol's magazine. She counted two bullets without emotion. There were two, but most likely one foe left to vanquish. She only heard gun fire emanating from one direction. She crawled in the opposite direction. The gun was being poorly aimed, shots being spread wildly. As she peeked around the corner of the destroyed car she saw the last ghoul, taking shelter behind a bench. He was concentrating his fire on one location, oblivious to the fact that she'd moved. She continued to crawl towards him; the bench was providing decent cover. She continued to crawl until she was nearly perpendicular to his position. He emptied another magazine. As he reloaded she fired the last two bullets, decapitating the ghoul.
The girl stood and collected her things, replacing her face wrap and goggles. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. She looted the ghouls, knowing their weapons would prove profitable. She used a roll of duct tape from her pockets and tolled all their weapons together. She strapped the bundle onto her back. Scanning the horizon she slid into the ditch and crawled to her destination. She crawled a further two miles until she came to a large, undamaged road sign.
Welcome to Fort Malden.
She emerged from the ditch and walked towards the gate. Before her was a large army base, stretching for five miles in either direction. Walls were twenty feet tall. Sentry towers every 50 feet. The towers were adorned with searchlights and sentry turrets. Mr. Gutsie's and Sentry Bots patrolled the perimeter. Any other approach to the base was heavily mined. She spread her arms and opened her palms as one of the Mr. Gutsy's spotted her.
"Identify yourself and your purpose or I'll fry your commie ass!"
"Erica Bronson. I have a meeting with Major Belanger."
"Standby."
She stood and waited a few moments until she was given the all clear. The steel gates opened and she stepped into the base of the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry Regiment.
TBC
