Nico Markson-Militia HQ-Afternoon:


Nico pointed to the weapons range.

"FIRE THE WEAPONS AT THE WOODEN TARGETS! GO GO GO" he barked

The two recruits ran up to the firing range, and fired the Desert Eagle's at the targets with accurate hits. Then they ran to the SMG table, firing off the MPk5 at the targets, filling it with bullets. Then they ran to the Assault Weapons table, they picked up a M-16 and hit the targets with accuracy. The last weapon they fired was the shotgun. The man successfully hit the target, while the girl was blown back onto the mud. Nico walked up to her

"Your in the Militia, just im not going to give you a shotgun." he grinned and he reached for her hand

Mark

We arrived at the firing range in a few minutes with the other recruits. The tall commander in Militia armor pointed to the tables and yelled at the recruits who had survived the course, including Mark and Mary.

"FIRE THE WEAPONS AT THE WOODEN TARGETS! GO GO GO!!!" he barked at them. Mark and Mary head over to the Firing Range and they both picked up Desert Eagles and shot the wooden target in the head. They ran over to the SMG's and grabbed the MPK5. The wooden target's head was blown off, and the two dropped their weapons. They tackled the recruits in their way and they reached the Assault Rifles. Mark fired an M-16 while Mary got an AK-47. They hit the targets right in the center and finally got to the last table, the shotgun. They picked it up, and Mark left a huge hole in the target's chest. Mary thought it was a bit heavy, but still fired it. She blew back into the mud and the commander strode towards her.

"You're in the Militia, just I'm not going to give you a shotgun," he joked, lending a hand to her. She accepted and he lifted her up. Mark walked over to them, sweating like hell.

"Heh, what a day this was."

Juron Harrad- Liuh Train Station

Juron was working some time at Liuh with his best friend, Gerry. They had been working all day on the field when the loud bugle of a working train distracted them from their work. They strode over to the nearby Liuh Train Station where the horn roared over the large town. Juron and Gerry were standing in the middle of the station as a real train roared on.

"Hey hey hey, what's going on here? How'd you get this Pre-War junk working again?" Juron asked the engineer. He looked at them from his seat on the train and opened the window. He puffed his tobacco and took it away from his mouth.

"We found out how these old Americans built these things, and fixed 'em up. We've been working on this train for a few years now. Now we can send cargo to other places without having to go on foot. We're putting in some supplies in now," the engineer pointed over to the rear end of the train. "We got mini nukes that need to be sent over to this Brotherhood base."

Juron nodded and grinned at the magnificent discovery they had just made. Gerry walked over to the end of the train, looking at the cargo that was going to be sent. When the engineer meant min nukes, he wasn't kidding. There were piles and shelves full of them. The engineer was being called outside just when they closed the doors after filling the cargo section up. There were about five hundred min nukes in there, and they closed it with a lock. Juron and Gerry walked over to the front where the engineer had left the window open. Juron reached over to close it, but he tapped it too hard and it fell off its hinges. The window, with all it's weight and force, it pushed down the accelerator and the train started moving, slowly at first, but then it went full speed ahead and ran over the engineer. One of the men who was packing the cargo ran over to the two and stared in fear as the train ran away.

"Oh damn it! That train is now a doomsday device! It won't be able to stop and it's going to blow it's top once it reaches the brotherhood base!" he said.

OOC: This train will have to be stopped or the Brotherhood base will blow up. And Liuh is a town at the edge of D.C.

Borgia Manus

Borgia calmed his slavers down. He told them that after they had a night of sleep they would begin to organise things. After that he retreated to his new home and called Forty, Ymir (and of course Jotun) and Jerry to his quarters. Once they had all arrived Borgia began speaking.

"Today has been an eventful day, more eventful than one I can think of before in Paradise Falls history. Not only has there been a change in leadership, we get attacked by the Brotherhood of Steel."

Borgia sighed and poured himself a glass of whiskey he found in by Eulogy's bed.

"Forty, I put you in charge of defence of the camp. That means you set up barricades around in case we are attacked. Begin building camp spots, namely at the entrance."

"Jerry, I'm placing you in command of guarding the front entrance. I know you are a relative newcomer to Paradise Falls, however you are good with a gun and more importantly, loyal. Grouse took bribes and other such incompetence. I expect you to keep Paradise Falls safe, meaning no entry unless I approve. Once Forty has organised some sort of sniper tower or nest at the entrance, have men stand careful guard there. Tomorrow I will compile a list of men who are at your command to be used at the entrance. I'm trusting you to allocate time and jobs fairly."

"And Ymir, we need more caps. So far our only steady partner is Ashur, an ex-Brotherhood Paladin no less. While I attempt to form relationships and deals, we need more slaves, most of our current ones will be sold to the Pitt in the soon future. Go out into the Wasteland with your boy and some slavers, and get me some slaves. I recommend Big Town, and the bridge town, Arefu. Head out tomorrow, even if just to scout."

They all nodded and began leaving Borgia's home. Borgia called Forty back.

"I may need some company tonight, Forty. Not you of course, but I assume you'll make a good choice."

Nico Markson-Militia HQ-Afternoon:

Nico smirked at the two recruits

"You two get the rest of the day off, tomorrow you being Patrol Duty with Alex." he pointed to a Militant
------------------------------
Echo Six-Cliffs near Falls-Afternoon:

The sniper team moved in with Ghille suits, watching Paradise Falls.

"Echo Six to Papa Bear, Come in Papa Bear" said the sniper

"Papa Bear here, report!" said the radio operator

"We are watching Paradise Falls, and the place looks 'normal'. But it- OH [censored]!" they said

"Echo-Six, whats happening?" said the radio operator

"THEY SPOTTED US!" the snipers went dark
----------------------------------
Harry Mason-Tenpenny Tower-Afternoon

Harry got in, and demanded to see Mr.Mieux.

"I demand to see Mr.Mieux!" he shouted to the secretary

"Fine Fine Fine! I will message him!" the secretary paged Mieux.

OOC: Names, Mieux reads all letters sent to him, just so you know.

Having no one really know what he looked like had it's perks. He saw Harry shout and demanding to see Mieux, he just looked at the guy for a second and went to the elevator and went to his top floor, heading into his office where he immediately heard the intercom on his desk beeping. "Yes?" He said, replying in his most charming and appealing voice. His lobby Maitre'd sounding all business, " Sir, Mr. Harry is here, but I know your rule about meetings people." Mieux smiled and said suavly, "Don't worry my good man, have him meet Mr. Sivel if he's in." The Maitre'd replied quickly, "Of course sir, thank you sir." and disconnected. This was a signal between the two, 'Meeting Mr. Sibel' meant Mieux was stone walling Harry and didn't want to meet him, as Mr. Sibel didn't exist, but to anyone else, he was 'out of the tower at the moment'.

The Maitre'd looked at Harry and smiled politely, "Mr. Mieux isn't seeing anyone at this time, perhaps Mr. Sibel is in." The man pushed the desk intercom thrice, to no response. The man feigned annoyance, "I'm sorry sir, but Mr. Sibel isn't in right now either, I tell you what, take this room key for the night, and take these sheets of paper and write out a letter to Mieux and I'll have it sent to him right away." He handed Harry a few sheets of letter and an envelope Pre-Written on the front 'To Mr. Mieux, From:_____'.

Harry Mason-Tenpenny Tower-Afternoon:

Harry grabbed the key and paper, and started writing:

To Mr. Mieux,

I do see a financial, militaristic, and economic gain for the both of us if we can ally, i do wish to speak with you in person, so we can talk this out. I have millions of caps at my disposal, i can buy out the tribes that live in the area around Tenpenny Tower, minus the Talon Company. All I need is a place to reside here, a open trade route, and ill give you 10 20 mercenaries. I will also give you 7,000 caps a month.

From:Harry Mason

Mark

The commander smirked at the two while Mark dozed off, he was too hot and his sweat had gotten to places where he would never imagine. Suddenly, the commander roared at the two, which made Mark jump.

"You two get the rest of the day off, tomorrow you being Patrol Duty with Alex." he commanded. He pointed to a Militia soldier, who Mark assumed was Alex. The two of them nodded and followed Alex out of the firing range into the center of the Militia HQ. There Alex gave them a tour of the place.

"The day off, huh? You must be on Nico's good side. But trust me, you don't want to see him when he's angry. Anyways, since you don't have anything to do for the rest of the day, I guess you wouldn't mind me showing you around. Come on now," Alex led them through all the bunks and tents and showed them all the soldiers and commanders- who he seemed to remember all their names by heart- and even showed them the Mess Hall. "This is where you'll be eating every day. Even when we go out on an important mission, all the soldiers have to eat so they don't get a stomach ache or anything,"

They exited the cafeteria and the sun shone proudly above the Militia HQ. Too bad it was all ruined by a newspaper.

Travelling bomb heads for a BoS base.

A train filled with mini-nukes has been unmanned for almost an hour now, and it's heading to a BoS base. The train took off from Liuh Train Station an hour ago unmanned when a Liuh resident pulled down the switch and the Train, headed for a Brotherhood of Steel base, ran off. The exact location of this train is unknown, but if you see it, please try to stop it.

Alex Johanson-Militia HQ-Afternoon:

"Son of a [censored]!" Alex said he read the newspaper "But i don't care really at this point....Liuh is too far for us to do anything. The Brotherhood just pushes the wasteland around."

Alex continued showing them on the tour. They walked into the Command building, and he pointed to a young looking kid with glasses and a brown beanie hat with a rim on the radio

"This is our Command building." he pointed at the kid "This is Radar, hes our Company Clerk"

Radar was deep in communication to even bother with Alex.

Alex then showed them the defenses.

"These are Browning HMGs on the towers. If you got hit by one, you'd be dead before you hit the floor!" he exclaimed, he then walked them over to the Ammo and supply dump

"This is our supply dump. Ammo, blankets, weapons, food, water, everything is stored here." He showed them it.

"I believe Nico showed you your quarters, but you just got moved up to solider, and since we have two openings in the solider barracks, you can stay there." Alex walked them into the barracks and showed them their new bunks.

"You." he pointed to Mary "Your on top." he then pointed to Mark "Your on the bottom, knock yourself out."

Alex ran back into Radar's "office"

"Radar!" Alex shook him

"WHAT? Oh! Alex! Sorry!" He said

"Damn it Radar, nevermind that, look, What the hell is wrong?" Alex demanded

"We lost contact with Echo-Six..." Radar sighed

"Damn it!" Alex said "Nico ain't gonna like this!"

Alex ran out, and told Nico to come into Radar's office

"WHAT!" he shouted

"Sir, i think the slavers found him!" Alex said

"Look, no more spying, we need to push north, or cut down the slaver attacks with our HMGs." Nico said

"Yes Sir!" Radar and Alex said simultaneously.

Mark

"Son of a [censored]!" Alex said as he read the newspaper. "But i don't care really at this point....Liuh is too far for us to do anything. The Brotherhood just pushes the wasteland around." Alex soon forget about it, and they kept walking until they reached the Command building. Once inside, Alex pointed to a small kid with glasses and a hat.

"This is our command building," he pointed to the kid. "That's Radar, he's our Company Clerk," The kid didn't even bother to look up. Then, Alex led them outside again to show them the Militia's defenses. "These are Browning HMGs on the towers. If you got hit by one, you'd be dead before you hit the floor!" he exclaimed, he then walked them over to the ammo and supply dump.

"This is our supply dump. Ammo, blankets, weapons, food, water, everything is stored here," He showed them it. Mark thought it was quite fascinating. He looked inside and almost fell in. "Whoa, careful now," Alex carefully pushed him back up. "You wouldn't want to fall in there."

"I believe Nico showed you your quarters, but you just got moved up to solider, and since we have two openings in the solider barracks, you can stay there." Alex walked them into the barracks and showed them their new bunks. They weren't any different from their old ones, except the soldiers' bunks were comfortable, unlike the recruits' bunks.

"You." he pointed to Mary "Your on top." he then pointed to Mark "Your on the bottom, knock yourself out." Alex ran over to the Command building, leaving the two alone with the other soldiers. The others were joking around with each other, getting ready to be called for their duties. Some were sleeping, some were sitting on their bunks and reading magazines, some were getting prepared to go shower or sneak into the womens' shower room.

"Wow, I can't stop thinking about that train. Someone needs to stop it." Mark laid on his bunk on the bottom, while Mary sat near his legs.

"No one cares, Mark. They think if something doesn't have to with them, they won't help. But we do. We'll stop that train before it reaches that BoS base," Mary, confidently, told Mark. "Deal?"

"Deal."

Alex Johanson-Militia HQ-12:00AM:

Alex woke up with his alarm going off. He walked out of his quarters and into the solider barracks.

"WAKE UP!" he shouted, the soldier's jumped off their bunks and lined up infront of Alex.

"MARK, MARY, JOHN, BOWMAN! REPORT TO THE COMPOUND! REST OF YOU, GET YOUR REST!" he barked

Mark, Mary, John, and Bowman followed Alex to the compound, and Alex handed Mary and Mark their equipment

"Heres your M-16, your M9 pistol, a Machete, and a backpack filled with necessary supplies." the two took the equipment and waited for Alex to finish orders

"We are going on patrol from here, to Megaton, and back. That will take probably a day or two, but we are not just patrolling, but recruiting." Alex motioned for his squad to follow him, and they did.

Mark

Mark was dreaming a peaceful dream when someone shouted to wake up. Mark opened his eyes and saw Alex there, shouting. Mark stayed in bed until he heard his name from Alex.

"MARK, MARY, JOHN, BOWMAN! REPORT TO THE COMPOUND! REST OF YOU, GET YOUR REST!" he barked. Mark got up from his bed and walked over to the line of soldiers in front of Alex. The named soldiers followed Alex to the Compound. When Mark and Mary got there, they were given their equipment. "Heres your M-16, your M9 pistol, a Machete, and a backpack filled with necessary supplies," the two took the equipment and waited for Alex to finish orders.

"We are going on patrol from here, to Megaton, and back. That will take probably a day or two, but we are not just patrolling, but recruiting." Alex motioned for his squad to follow him, and they did.

Alex Johanson-Patrol Route-Early Morning:

They saw lights infront of them

"Sir...." said John

"GET DOWN!" they dived into the ditch, but John was too late, the train hit him head on

"ITS THE LIUH TRAIN!" screamed Mark over the train

"BOWMAN! FIRE THAT RPG!" ordered Alex, and Bowman did, it hit the train with much force, destroying it in a fiery explosion.

"Take Rad-Away and Rad-X, that radiation might be there..." Alex said as they moved onward.
-----------------------------
Frank Linville-Science Lab-Morning:

"Sir! Look, i just made this concoction!" Frank said

"Lets try it out..." the teacher grabbed the concoction and put it in the air filtration in a small glass room with a Wastelander in it. The wastelander grabbed his throat, starting throwing up, his skin turned deathly green, and died.

"Good...Very Good." said the Teacher.

Mark

It all happened in a split second. Mark and the others saw the lights, and suddenly, there was a loud thud as Alex threw Mark to the ground. The only thing Mark thought was: "IT'S THE LIUH TRAIN!" The loud sound of the train passing on top of them was louder than him, but Alex must've heard him, because he suddenly barked an order.

"BOWMAN! FIRE THAT RPG!" ordered Alex, and Bowman did, it hit the train with much force, destroying it in a fiery explosion. The train, with the force of the explosion, flew up and landed a few feet away from the tracks.

"I've never had so much adrenaline in my life." Mark said, breathing heavily.

"Take Rad-Away and Rad-X, that radiation might be there..." Alex said as they moved onward.

"BLEH!" Vatris flung a prosthetic arm at his door, kicking aside a poorly-constructed lower body and slamming his fist into the wall. "Stupid wires always electrocuting me! ALWAYS!" He set his fingers into his lips, svcking on them and giving off a few grunts of pain before sitting down in his chair. "Tim!" The Mr.Handy had just entered the room, "Make your steel butt useful, and clean it up this mess! And once your done with that, go get me a damn drink. And make sure that it prevents me from thinking, because that's the last thing I need right now!"

"Right away sir. Might I recommend drinking twelve glasses of any alcoholic beverage?" the robot buzzed as it begin to push the prosthetic limbs and wires into a neat pile at the corner of the room.

"Just get it done..." Vatris covered his face in his hand as the robot floated out, giving off a irritated sigh. Sometimes, technology didn't want to co-operate. The time for that however was not when Vatris's place of residence may or may not be under threat of invasion by military forces from the outside. It isn't easy being a technological super genius.

Alex Johanson-Megaton-Early Morning:

The four squad moved through the small quiet town of Arefu without a word. They neared Megaton with every waking hour. When they got there, they saw Talon Company Soldiers patrolling Springvale.

"Get down!" he said as he threw Mark and Mary into the mud. "Its the Talon Company!"

The squad crawled through the mud and slipped in Springvale.

"Put on Gas Masks and Balaclavas!" he said, and the squad did. They also donned gloves.

"LOOK!" shouted a Talon Company Solider "WE HAVE INTRUDERS!" The alarm sounded, and Talon's scrambled.

"Go loud! Open Fire!" he said as the squad erupted into gun fire

Bowman was struck in the head, and the entire side of his head was blown off

"BOWMAN! BOWMAN!" Alex shouted "YOU SON OF A [censored]!"

Alex threw a Tear Gas Grenade at the Mercs, and they started coughing

"OPEN FIRE!" shouted Alex, the remainder of the squad did, killing the Talon Company mercs.

Alex walked to where the Talon Company lay dead.

"Bastards!" he spat on the bodies

He then saw a Talon Company officer run into a building draqed with a Talon Company Flag

"I want the officer, NOW!" The squad ran into the building, Mark and Mary stayed at the doors. Alex shot the house up with his AK

"I GOT TWENTY MORE CLIPS!" he shouted, he threw a flashbang up to the top floor, and he heard

"DAMN IT!"

"Found ya" he said, he walked up, and shot the man in the head. Then he walked over to a radio

"Your outpost is dead, they are all murdered. You cannot stop the Militia!"

Mark

Mark and the rest of the squad reached Arefu without a word. They found some weapons, and moved on. They reached Springvale and discovered a Talon Company outpost. Alex had his eyes wide open, while Mary and Mark stood there without movement.

"Get down!" he said as he threw Mark and Mary into the mud. "Its the Talon Company!" Mark and Mary were bot wet with mud, and they crawled through it until they reached Springvale. On the way, Alex barked some more orders.

"Put on Gas Masks and Balaclavas!" he said, and the squad did. They also donned gloves. They quietly got up, but Talon Company had noticed them before that.

"LOOK!" shouted a Talon Company Solider "WE HAVE INTRUDERS!" The alarm sounded, and Talon's scrambled. Mary, Mark, and Alex went to take cover while he said, "Go loud! Open fire!" Bowman stayed in the open and got half of his face cut in half. "BOWMAN! BOWMAN!" Alex shouted "YOU SON OF A [censored]!" Alex through a gas grenade and the Talons got knocked out. "OPEN FIRE!" shouted Alex, the remainder of the squad did, killing the Talon Company mercs.

Alex walked over to the dead mercs and spat on them. He said something, but there were too far away to hear it. Alex then saw a Talon Company officer run into a building draqed with a Talon Company Flag. He ran after him and barked some more orders.

"I want the officer, NOW!" The squad ran into the building, Mark and Mary stayed at the doors. Alex shot the house up with his AK-47, and he was proud of himself, too. Then, he went in and yelled, "I GOT TWENTY MORE CLIPS!" he threw a flash bang up and heard, "DAMN IT!"

"Found ya" he said, he walked up, and shot the man in the head. Then he walked over to a radio. "Your outpost is dead, they are all murdered. You cannot stop the Militia!"

Mark felt victorious, until some one from behind covered his both and hid him in the bushes. The man shushed Mark, and pointed a sniper from above the bushes as Alex came back.

Alex Johanson-Springvale-Morning:

Alex was pretty proud of himself, then, he saw a rifle pointing out of a bush, and he started firing at the bush. He emptied a clip. He saw a dead sniper and a wounded Mark

"Damn it Mark!" he said as he pulled him out of the Bush, Mary shrieked as she saw Mark's bleeding arm. Alex slung Mark over his shoulders and ran to downtown Megaton. He entered the town and went to the doctor, who was awake.

"Sir! This man has been hit!" Alex said

"Damn, looks bad. I'll have to operate. You!" The Doc pointed to Alex "Help me with the anesthetic!"

They laid Mark on the operating table

"Good luck..." Alex said as he put the mask over Mark's face.

Monroe

MDPL Mass Relay Station - 1:45pm

"Great.", said Monroe. He looked at the scared young girl, fidgeting with the sling of her shotgun, and just knew he wasn't going to like what Mitch had to tell him about Big Town at all. "I just love surprises."

Mitch then told him about what she saw at Big Town. Monroe then questioned Bittercup, who told her story. She had finished her watch-keeping duties, then left Big Town to scav for more of the chalk she uses for makeup. While doing that, she heard noise made by some sort of machine...the flying machine that Mitch and the other two saw later. She saw two of the machines land on the road in front of the entrance and a number of men jumped out, stormed into Big Town and massacred everyone there. With only one exit, the Big Towners had no chance. She thought it was the Brotherhood, but couldn't understand why they would do that...according to the radio they were trying to help people and they had nothing worth taking....even the Outcasts didn't just butcher people like that. She never got close to them, but the armor they were wearing was not the same as the Paladins. After they threw the bodies of the residents in the ravine across the road, they settled in and made camp there. After that, she hid until she saw Mitch and Quinn and took a chance they would help her.

"It wasn't the Brotherhood, whoever it was.", said Monroe. "If they had aircraft they would have used them on us rather than Big Town." The residents there were pretty much kids like Bittercup, they had no idea what life was like out here and were easy prey for even the most punk-ass crew of Raiders. Why would the Brotherhood send aircraft to gack kids rather than send them with thier #2 Paladin to hit the Camp against people that could fight back?"

"No offense", said Quinn. "But the Brotherhood would probably be a better place for her than cutting her loose in Megaton or Rivet City alone."

"None taken.", said Monroe after a short pause. "Actually, that's a good f****** idea." Taking a guest as a worker was bad form, and would be very bad for business if it got out, so it wasn't an option but this kid did not belong amongst them. Seeing that the Paladins were still in eyesight, he gestured to one of the two outriders he had on horseback watching for Eulogy's people to come in. He then borrowed his horse, and hoisting Bittercup into the saddle behind him, cantered towards the Paladins and quickly overtook them.

"Ma'am!", said one of the Paladins to Star-Paladin Cross. "One of the Raiders is approaching on horseback."

"Very well. Halt the column and I'll talk to them", said Cross as she walked back to the rear of the column to talk to the Raider. "Now what", she thought sourly.

The rider turned out to be Monroe, with him he had the teenager...almost a child...that they had passed by a few minutes ago. "So that woman was the agent who got the key in Rivet City.", she thought, thinking about the young hispanic woman with her wearing leather armor that she probably needs a shoe-horn to get into. "I guess either Dukov was her type or she's a lot more dedicated to Ashur than I am the Brotherhood." As having a way to contact Monroe was alwys handy, she decided to keep this piece of information to herself. Monroe rode up then helped the girl dismount then dismounted himself.

"What can I do for you, Monroe?", asked Cross. "I would like to get back to the Citadel before dark."

"I have someone here you might be interested in speaking to.", said Monroe. "This is Bittercup, so far as we know the only survivor of Big Town. They were hit yesterday."

"By who?", asked Cross? "Raiders? Mutants? Slavers?"

"That's the most interesting part, we don't know.", said Monroe. He then turned to Bittercup. "Tell her everything, kid."

Bittercup then told her story for the third time, as Cross paid rapt attention and asked questions as necessary to get everything the young girl knew. The fact anyone would butcher a bunch of kids like that was disgusting, but the nature of the attackers Bittercup described...and Monroe confirmed from what Mitch had told him...froze her blood. "The Elder must be made aware of this...perhaps he will know what it means.", said Cross.

"I quite agree.", said Monroe. "I think maybe it would be best if she told the Elder all about it."

Cross looked at the hardened Raider, then at the frightened young girl with leather armor that was too big for her and carrying a shotgun she probably barely knew how to use. "Yes, I think that would be the best course of action.". She then turned to Bittercup. "How would you like to come to the Citadel with us? You'll be safe there." Bittercup nodded yes vigorously. The never ending nightmare her life had been since she was thrown out of Lamplight five months ago finally seemed to be coming to an end.

Leaving Bittercup with Star-Paladin Cross, Monroe rode back to his men and gave the outrider his horse back so he could resume his station. Once Cross and her men were out of sight, Monroe gave the order to return to camp.

"Thanks, Boss.", said Mitch. "I couldn't just leave her there."

"Don't mention it.", Monroe said wistfully. "She doesn't belong out here, and the Brotherhood will figure that out pretty quick. They'll see to it she gets taken care of. Also, Ashur has called me back to the Pitt for a chat. Apparently something big went down there a couple weeks ago."

Mark

Alex went out into the open, proud of himself. The Talon Company merc was about to murder Alex, but he noticed soon enough and emptied his clip, killing the merc and wounding Mark. Mark was dizzy and blinded. Alex and Mary ran over to the wounded Mark. "Damn it Mark!" Alex shouted as he pulled Mark out of the bush. Mary stared at Mark's bleeding arm and yelped.

"Don't worry, it's just a little flesh wound," he told Mary. "Calm down." Alex sloped Mark on back of his shoulders and ran him over to Megaton's clinic where the doctor laid him on his bed. Mark was too hurt to even speak. He did, however, listen to the conversation between the doctor and Alex.

"Sir! This man has been hit!" Alex told the doctor. The doctor looked him over and suddenly jumped up.

"Damn, looks bad. I'll have to operate. You!" The Doc pointed to Alex "Help me with the anesthetic!" Alex went over to a table and grabbed a gas mask. He took it over to Mark, where the Doc told him to put it on his face.

"Good luck, bud."

Alex Johanson-Operation Room-Morning:

Alex was in the operation, and he noticed Mark's blood pressure was dropping and a bullet in the Heart.


"Blood Pressure is raising!" Alex said to the Doc

"Damn it, what is it?"

"175 over 90" Alex replied

"Damn it, we can't save him, thats too high, the only hope we could have is that a Brotherhood medic comes by, which isn't going to happen." The Doc walked away from Mark. Alex stayed, crying over Mark's body. "Sorry kid...Sorry..." The Doc walked over and patted Alex on the back

"Its life kid...Im sorry.." The Doc went back into his room while Alex walked into the little lobby

"Im sorry Mary.....He didn't make it. A bullet hit his heart, he didn't have a chance." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a Harmonica "I found this on him, with his and your name scratched onto it..." He hugged her

"Im sorry"

Mary

Mary waited for the surgery results as she looked around the room, the paintings on the walls, the blood-filled chairs. Alex walked into the room, with sorrow on his face. Mary knew straight away he hadn't made it.

"Im sorry Mary.....He didn't make it. A bullet hit his heart, he didn't have a chance." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a Harmonica "I found this on him, with his and your name scratched onto it..." He hugged her, and even though she didn't know him too well, she hugged back, tears soaking his shirt.

"I'm going to miss him so much."

Alex Johanson-Megaton Doctor's Office:Morning

Alex shook his head, they broke off, and he sat down, with a thousand yard stare, he stayed that way for a hour, Mary didn't bother him. The, he told her

"I'm not going back to that HQ." he said to Mary "Im not going back..."

She stared into his eyes

"We could start our own little group." he said "Be a Mafia..."

Mary

Alex shook his head and they separated, Alex sitting down next to Mary. He stared at her for an hour, then he told her.

"I'm not going back to that HQ," he told Mary "I'm not going back..."

Mary was surprised at the statement. She stared into Alex's eyes.

"We could start our own little group." he said "Be a Mafia..."

Mary looked down at her feet.

"Sure, we'll be our own little group. We'll get revenge on Talon Company,"

Alex grinned.

Monroe

Interstate 70 - Outside the ruins of Frederick, Maryland - 9:00am

"We've got a clear stretch for the next fifteen miles!", shouted the driver over the wind. "I'm going up to 50, that'll save us a couple hours!"

From the motorcycle sidecar he sat in, Monroe watched the world go by at the blistering pace...by post-war standards, of 50mph. The caravan journey to the Pitt to the Capital Wasteland takes two weeks....with the courier line Ashur ordered set up, the journey of 250 miles could be made in two days. Before the war, it would have taken only four hours. The coal to oil plant Ashur had set up didn't produce enough gas to make motorized convoys possible, but it did allow the use of a number of repaired and/or rebuilt motorcycles to be put into use to maintain communications with outposts of his domain, especially important ones like the Capital Wasteland. The first task of workers heading to the Pitt is to help clear the roads of derelict vehicles so the couriers can travel them. Punitive expeditions against Raider gangs who interfered with the couriers had taught the survivors to stay away.

Monroe wondered what had happened back in the Pitt that caused Ashur to call him back. He doubted it was to kill him...he would have sent someone of stature sufficient to replace him to take over once he left. Since he wasn't plotting against him...he firmly believed in what Ashur was doing to get people building things again rather then relying on leftovers from the Old World....he was unlikely to be in trouble on that score. He sounded well enough on the radio yesterday, so I doubt it's some sort of health crisis. "Oh, well.", thought Monroe. "I'll find out in about a day and a half."

Mitch

Ft Constantine - CO's Quarters - 9:00am

"Mitch, do you think he will come back?", asked Betty. Mitch knew she meant Monroe.

Mitch and Betty were standing in front of the CO's Quarters watching Quinn leave the Camp to head back south to Underworld. He and Monroe had hammered out a agreement last night, and when Monroe left for the Pitt at dawn, he took the samples and blueprints of what they needed built with him. Mitch was not worried about him, the canny old ghoul was at home in the Wasteland and should make it home fine. Mitch wasn't worried about Monroe either....Ashur never killed without a reason, and if he was a traitor she'd have known about it. Mitch suspected someone else had tried thier luck with Ashur and paid the price...it happens from time to time. He was trying to socialize his Raiders, but many of them came from the deadliest Raider gangs East of the Mississippi....treachery was to be expected.

"Yes.", said Mitch. "But have you prepared as I told you to? If I'm wrong we will have to move fast."

Betty nodded. Mitch had told her that Monroe left her instructions to pay off her contract and take her to Rivet City if he didn't come back, or someone else arrived with orders to take over. Right now, Frankie was in charge...though Monroe had "suggested" to him he listen to Brainiac and her's advice. Once Quinn was clear she needed to go to the Falls....they need new workers in here to help rebuild the breached walls from the Brotherhood attack. She was ostensibly checking in on Pronto to see if he had any orders for product...but that was a pretext to turn up the screws on Eulogy to send some more bodies this way.

"I f****** hate the Falls", thought Mitch. She understood why they needed workers but Eulogy was a sick pervert who'd probably try to r*pe her if he didn't rightly fear Ashur sending a Army to level the place as an object lesson on what happens to those who abuse his Emissaries. "Slapping a collar on him and casting him down into the Mill would be delicious.", she thought.

"And what about Big Town?", she thought. No one knew who or what was going on there...they had received a curt radio message from the Citadel that Cross and her men, with Bittercup in tow, had arrived without incident but nothing since. "Hope the Brotherhood takes care of her.", Mitch thought. "She's weird but who isn't out here?"

Alex Johanson-Megaton-Morning:

Alex and Mary walked out of the doctors office and over to the bar, which was just reopening

"Our first customers!" said the waiter

"Two Beers!" Alex ordered

"Oke Doke" said the waiter, who grabbed two Beers out of a frig.

"Here yall go, that'll be 10 caps!" Alex payed the man

Mary and Alex clanked Beers and drank to the occasion

"Did ya hear Moriarty got murdered like...a few days ago. I wish someone would take control of this town..." sighed the waiter

"Hmm, how would you like to join our Mafia?" asked Alex

"Sure!" the waiter said

"Good, you got any friends who would join?" Alex asked

"Yea, all of em. Thats about 20 people, a 10th of the population here." the waiter said

"Good, get them to the house closest to the Megaton Gate tomorrow. Tell em to bring everything they can carry." Alex said as Mary and him finished their beers.

"Lets go to our new house." said Alex as they walked to the abandoned house, it wasn't the Talon Company one, it was another one.

"Looks good..." Mary said as she walked in

Alex looked at Mary for the first time

Damn shes hot, if only i could get her in bed..... he thought as his mind drifted